Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who will meet with Korean President Park Geun-hye on October 31. The picture is taken when the two met in Milano, Italy, in 2014.

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By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - There is a growing interest in China in the upcoming China-Japan-South Korea trilateral summit, which will take place in Seoul on November 1. Chinese media and opinion leaders as well as Chinese citizens are paying much attention to the summit.

According to Beijing's leading newspaper Beijing News and other Chinese media outlets on Tuesday, China is, however, not expecting too much from the summit. The country is not having high hopes for a fruitful talk especially with Japan. Due to issues of history and territory, it seems uncomfortable for Premier Li and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sit face to face for a talk. Some observers presented even more skeptical view that Li would not even have a bilateral talk with Abe. In short, there is an atmosphere that Japan must be contended with meeting Li.

However, anticipation is running high over the meeting with Korean President Park Geun-hye, which is scheduled on October 31. Some carefully prospect that there will be some progress in China-South Korea free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. Besides, China hopes that Korea responds actively to the nation's "One Belt, One Road" (land and maritime silk roads) project. Economic issues, trade, education, science and technology are also expected to be high on the agenda at the meeting.

In addition, China expects that the two sides will have an in-depth talk about Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and China-driven Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Many observers say it's too early to talk about China-Japan-South Korea tripartite free trade agreement as both Korea and China have not restored trust in Japan. Nevertheless, Premier Li's visit to Seoul from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3 is understandable considering China's diplomatic strategy of seeking common ground while holding back differences.