A South Korea calligrapher introduces the new book to the visitors. [Photo/Xinhua]

The idea of compiling the most commonly used Chinese characters in the three countries was proposed by a Chinese delegate in the 2005 forum and was welcomed by the Japanese and South Korean sides. It took the concerned parties of the three countries nearly 6 years of deliberations to finalize the list, draft the book and finally publish it in book form.

The Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum, co-sponsored by Xinhua News Agency of China, the Nikkei news group of Japan and the South Korean leading daily newspaper Joongang Ilbo , has been held alternately in the three countries since 2006. It aims to strengthen non-governmental exchanges among the three neighboring countries. It attracted more than 40 prominent figures from all walks of life in the three countries.