In an unusual joint statement, the three appeared to have shored up a relationship that was strained by complaints over the previous Japanese government's attitude to the country's notorious World War II past.

But new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made better relations a priority since taking office in September, and his talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun were hailed by all sides.

"The three leaders expressed satisfaction with the recent development of relations," the statement said, pledging a meeting of their senior foreign affairs officials in China later this year.

"As important countries in Asia, China, Japan and South Korea shoulder great responsibilities in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in Asia."

The three took particular aim at North Korea, which angered even its lone major ally China in October when it tested a nuclear weapon for the first time despite massive international pressure to give up its nuclear programme.

China, Japan and South Korea said they had "emphasised the importance of addressing the issue of humanitarian concerns of the international community" about the North, formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

A senior Japanese official said the reference was to Japanese and South Korean complaints about the North's refusal to account for past abductions of their citizens.

"This is the first time China has raised the abductions issue," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"The leaders expressed their concern about the situation caused by the DPRK's recent missile launches and nuclear test," the statement said.

It was the first summit between the three Asian powers in two years, after strains emerged over the visits of former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi to a controversial Tokyo war shrine.

The visits stirred up anger in China and South Korea, but Abe visited both Beijing and Seoul after he took office last year and announced that he would work hard to mend relations.

"Last year you paid an important visit to China and due to the common efforts between our countries, we have found a solution to eradicate the obstacles in our relationship," Wen told Abe in a one-to-one meeting earlier Sunday.

"We are happy to see that China-Japan relations are moving forward. This is in the interest of the people in our two countries, Asia and the whole world," he said.

The statement said the three had agreed to improve "coordination on major political and diplomatic issues involving the three countries as well as international and regional issues".