Japan will cooperate with China and South Korea to combat human and drug smuggling, Justice Minister Masahiko Komura said Tuesday.
The Justice Ministry is considering regular information exchanges and discussing judicial reforms with the two countries, Komura told a news conference.
He said the trilateral cooperation was proposed by South Korea's ambassador to China during a four-day visit to Beijing by Komura from April 1 for talks with Chinese law-enforcement officials over bilateral cooperation on smuggling.
Chinese judicial officials and Foreign Minister Yohei Kono were also upbeat on the proposal, Komura said, adding that China and South Korea have worked together in the past to bust a Chinese drug ring.
Japan and China hold annual conferences of their security authorities, while Japan and South Korea hold annual liaison gatherings on stimulants and narcotics as well as meetings of consuls, according to the ministry.