A joint declaration, adopted in South Korea, includes the agreement along with a commitment to hold regular meetings of the three countries’ chief veterinarians.

In addition, the ministers urged the development of joint studies, the sharing of disease control techniques, and the exchange of experts in animal diseases.

According to the meeting, cooperation between the three countries is considered essential to prevent the cross-border spread of African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and other infectious diseases.

Japanese authorities assured that they maintain strict surveillance against African swine fever, which has never been reported domestically but has been detected in China and South Korea in the past.

Another disease that has seriously affected livestock farmers is avian flu, a virus transmitted by migratory birds on the continent that can even infect humans and is considered highly contagious.

jdt/lam/msm