S. Korea, China, Japan stress stronger supply chain, energy security ties at ASEAN+3 talks

South Korea, China and Japan on Thursday called for stronger cooperation on supply chains and food and energy security at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related ministerial meeting amid the continued Middle East crisis, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

The consensus was reached during the 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, which brought together top diplomats from the 11 ASEAN member states and the three Northeast Asian countries to discuss ways to advance practical cooperation, according to the ministry.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi attended the meeting, while China was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying in place of Foreign Minister Wang Yi amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

"Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have exposed vulnerabilities which had long been simply hypothetical.

They have placed both our food and energy security under severe strain," Cho said.

"Yet, paradoxically, this crisis also opens a window of opportunity for ASEAN Plus Three to once again ...