Visiting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Monday on the leaders of Japan, China and South Korea to engage in a dialogue ¡°in a forward-looking manner¡± and lay the foundation for peace and reconciliation in the region.

Speaking at the outset of a symposium at United Nations University in Tokyo, Ban said Northeast Asia holds the key to promoting cooperation in the 21st century, which is often referred to as ¡°the era of Asia and the Pacific.¡±

¡°The United Nations have been engaging in a number of regional cooperative mechanisms, but Northeast Asia still remains a missing link,¡± Ban told the audience. ¡°I sincerely hope that the dialogue between countries in the region, in particular, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea, will proceed in a forward-looking manner.¡±

Ban urged the leaders of the three countries to ¡°be future-oriented, remembering the past,¡± for genuine reconciliation, harmony, peace and prosperity.

¡°This will generate a spirit of peace and reconciliation for generations to come. We should move forward in a spirit of cooperation for mutual benefits to achieve common prosperity,¡± he stressed.

Relations between Japan and China as well as Japan and South Korea have been strained over territorial and historical disputes.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a much-anticipated summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in November, but Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye have not held a formal one-on-one meeting since taking office, Abe in 2012 and Park in 2013.

The South-Korean born Ban, in Japan to attend the U.N. World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, expressed gratitude for Japan¡¯s numerous contributions to the international community, commending the country as ¡°a proactive contributor to humanitarian operations, development activities, peacekeeping, human rights and human security.¡±

¡°The United Nations deeply appreciates and values our partnership with Japan. We are tomodachi, we are friends,¡± Ban said. ¡°I look forward to strengthening our cooperation even more.¡±

Meanwhile, Abe said in a speech following Ban that the international community needs to be ¡°united¡± more than ever in the face of transnational issues such as terrorism, climate change and infectious diseases.

¡°Our country is determined to lead discussions on all issues in any stages within and without the United Nations,¡± Abe said, pledging further support for sustainable development, promotion of women¡¯s social status and health issues.

Abe also told the audience that Japan is ready to serve as a new permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, calling for ¡°concrete results¡± in reform of the council.

Japan is seeking a permanent seat along with Germany, Brazil and India as the so-called Group of Four.