Travelers in East Asia may soon find it much easier to use public transportation across all three countries.

Tourism ministers from Japan, China and South Korea meeting in Qingdao, China on Tuesday said that they have agreed to consider introducing integrated circuit cards that can be used in the systems of all three countries, according to Kyodo news.

The IC cards could also be also used as e-wallets, allowing users to pay money at hotels and restaurants of each country without having to use cash.

Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, Japan's Land Infrastructure and Transport minister proposed unification of each nation's transport card standards.

The countries also agreed to coordinate historic heritage tours and promote tourists to events such as the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

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