Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is urging for a trilateral free trade agreement among China, South Korea and Japan.

Wen said Wednesday during a meeting with the visiting representatives of Japan’s Nippon Keidanren business federation that the heads of the three countries should promote the signing of a three-way trade pact through regular meetings.

The Chinese premier said that the three countries are playing a key role in economic integration in Northeast Asia and should form closer cooperation in the areas of environmental protection and energy conservation.

Earlier this month, South Korea, Japan and China launched a joint research project on a three-way trade treaty.