TOYA LAKE, Japan - Former high-ranking officials and prominent figures from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Monday called for seeking common interests to improve trilateral pragmatic cooperation in the new era in efforts to maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The proposal was made in the Eighth session of the Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum, a regional platform that drew about 30 political, business and academic experts from the three countries.

The one-day session, which kicked off Monday, was under the theme of "Exploring Cooperation under a New Era,"and was attended by former Chinese vice-premier Zeng Peiyan, former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda and former ROK prime minister Lee Hong-koo.

In his keynote speech, Zeng said that improving political trust and enhancing public opinions towards each country among the three countries are priorities for trilateral cooperation, emphasizing that statesmen in the countries should take a long-term and strategic perspective and follow the reached consensus so as to handle sensitive issues properly and responsibly.

Zeng said the three countries have to effectively control and manage divergences and shelve disputes in a move to maintain regional peace and stability.

The three neighbors should also comprehensively push forward trilateral cooperation and coordinate in the global governance in a move to realize common interests of the Northeast Asia, Zeng pointed out.

Specifically, the former premier suggested that the three countries could eye forming a global energy and resources market mechanism and facilitate cooperation in the areas like recycling economy and green development, as well as discussion on the development of maritime economy.

Zeng said that under the background of globalization and reshuffling of internationals structure, the three countries have to follow a long-term view on the basis of friendly cooperation to create a miracle of Northeast Asia in the new era.

For his part, Fukuda said Japan, China and the ROK are geographically and historically connected, as well as at economic and political levels, adding the countries should construct mature relations through seeking cooperation that serves the countries' common interests.

Fukuda suggested that the three countries could improve trilateral cooperation to combat common challenges facing them like aging society, environment pollution and energy-related issues.

Lee, for his part, said that the three countries should manage the nationalism that may be triggered by their different viewpoints towards history and the unsolved territorial disputes.

He said the ROK, China and Japan should seeking common grounds through a future-oriented perspective.

The forum, co-sponsored by China's Xinhua News Agency, Japan's Nikkei news group and South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo, aims to strengthen non-governmental exchanges among the three neighboring countries.

The annual event has been held alternately in the three countries since 2006.