South Korea, China, Japan sign food security pact

Seoul, April 16 (IANS) South Korea, China and Japan have agreed to work together to ensure food security and enhance their trade in agricultural products.

The three neighbouring northeast Asian countries signed an agreement Sunday at a trilateral meeting, attended by their agriculture ministers, on South Korea's Jeju island, Xinhua reported.

The three countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on food security at regional and international levels, said a joint statement signed by the three ministers.

They also agreed to share information on foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu, and to further discuss the feasibility of setting up a joint office to tackle possible outbreaks of the two highly contagious animal diseases.

The three countries will also conduct joint studies of agricultural projects and increase exchanges of experts in the agricultural field.

They also plan to enhance trade of food and agricultural products, and make efforts to promote sustainable development in agriculture and fishery.

After this first trilateral meet, the ministers will meet again in Japan next year.