The 9th Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting of China, Japan and South Korea is set to open in Beijing today.

The talks come just a day before the China-Japan-South Korea trilateral summit opens, which will bring together Premier Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

The ministers will discuss signing a trilateral investment agreement and setting up a free trade area. They will also discuss the Pan-Yellow Sea economic and technical exchange session and cooperation in protecting intellectual property. On May 2, China and South Korea announced the start of negotiations for setting up a free trade area.