Representative of China Yu Jianhua (L) poses for a photo with his Japanese counterpart Koji Tsuruoka (R) and his South Korean counterpart Choi Kyong-lim before their trilateral talks in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on March 26, 2013. China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Tuesday started the first round of trilateral talks on the free trade agreement (FTA) in the ROK's capital, which will continue until Thursday. (Xinhua/Park jin-hee)

China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Tuesday started the first round of trilateral talks on the free trade agreement (FTA) in the ROK's capital, which will continue until Thursday.

Representatives from the three countries met at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel located in central Seoul to discuss the fields, mechanism and approaches of the FTA negotiations.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) in charge of trade affairs said it will announce the negotiation result on Thursday after the end of the three-day talks.

The ROK government said it will make the negotiation in a way to maximize the national interest and protect the sensitive sectors such as the agricultural industry.

The three sides have agreed to hold three rounds of talks within this year, with the other two in China and Japan.