Economists said the sooner a trilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) can be concluded among China, Japan and South Korea, the better it will be for a robust and sustainable growth in the region.
The upcoming annual summit of Japan, China and South Korea leaders will further reinforce mutual trust and demonstrate solidarity among the Asian neighbors, while post-quake cooperation is expected to be high on agenda this year.
China said on Wednesday it is ready to continue strengthening communication and coordination with the Republic of Korea (ROK) on peninsular issues.
The majority of Japanese people are dissatisfied with the government's post-disaster handling but are in favor of a tax hike to raise funds for restoration efforts in the wake of the March 11 disasters,the Mainichi Daily News reported Monday.
Japan on Monday protested a visit by a Russian government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov to two of the disputed Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, northern Japan on Sunday.
South Korean police say a series of explosions in the capital last week may have been orchestrated by a man seeking to gain profits by crashing stock markets.
Sony said it would begin a phased restoration of its PlayStation Network on Sunday on a country by country basis.
Japan's economy shrank in the first quarter at nearly double the pace expected, effectively slipping into recession.
Japan was to release a revised roadmap Tuesday for stabilizing its stricken nuclear plant amid signs that three troubled reactors have suffered worse-than-expected damage from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.