[Title] Trilateral Joint Announcement on Disaster Management Cooperation, Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit

The three leaders of the People's Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea shared the view on the importance of promoting trilateral cooperation on disaster management at the first Trilateral Summit held in Japan independently from other international conferences.

The three countries have always been under threats of natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, sediment related disasters and tsunamis. Moreover, the risk is expected to rise concerning water related disasters including typhoons, floods and sediment related disasters in the changing environment for disaster management such as climate change and rapid urbanisation. The three leaders recognised that they must cope with the risk of disasters. To this end, the three leaders shared the view that it is crucial for the three countries to share information on projects, initiatives, good practices, lessons learned and science and technologies to strengthen disaster management capability.

Taking the above into account, the three leaders will enhance cooperation in the following three areas:

1. Developing comprehensive disaster management framework

2. Developing measures and systems to reduce vulnerability to disasters and to minimise damage from disasters

3. Strengthening effective disaster management at the national, local and community levels

Moreover, in order to implement the above cooperation, the three leaders shared the view to hold trilateral heads of government agency and expert level meetings on disaster management in rotation, and to consider the first meeting to be hosted by Japan next year.

Fukuoka, 13th December 2008.