The leaders of the three most powerful countries in East Asia will finally meet in Seoul on Sunday, where China and South Korea apparently intend to set aside their animosity toward Japan to hold diplomatic talks.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will also hold a bilateral meeting later with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday that will be the first Japan-South Korea summit since May 2012.

Experts interviewed by The Japan Times said they expect little substantial progress to be made on the diplomatic front, but say the events themselves will have a large symbolic impact by signaling the start of reconciliation with Japan.