China said Tuesday that the trilateral summit with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) should be held at "an appropriate time" after Japan, the rotating chair, postponed the meeting until 2017.

Japan had been trying to hold the annual trilateral summit in December, but it was uncertain if scandal-hit ROK President Park Geun-hye could attend.

"Due to various circumstances, we will rearrange it and hold it in Japan at a suitable time next year," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday.

"China is engaged in close communication about the summit with Japan," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a news briefing.

"The trilateral summit should be held at an appropriate time and under proper conditions for the three parties, and should achieve positive outcomes," Geng said.

Geng reiterated that China attaches great importance to trilateral cooperation with Japan and the ROK and is ready to work closely with the two countries.

China wants to keep improving trilateral cooperation and ensure its healthy, stable and sustainable growth, the spokesperson said.

China, Japan and the ROK have hosted regular trilateral summits since 2008, except for a three-and-half-year suspension starting in May 2012, due to regional tensions.

The sixth China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting was held in Seoul in November last year.