Dhaka, March 23 -- Japan, China and South Korea's top diplomats began talks in Tokyo on Saturday, aiming to bolster economic and other cooperation at a time when US trade tariffs are looming over the region.

The meeting follows a rare trilateral summit in May in Seoul where the neighbours - riven by historical and territorial disputes - agreed to deepen ties.

"The international situation has become increasingly severe, and it is no exaggeration to say that we are at a turning point in history," Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at the start of Saturday's meeting, the 11th of its kind.

"In this context, it has become more important than ever to make efforts to overcome division and confrontation through dialogue and cooperati...