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This paper first asks why and how the ASEAN+3 process got off the ground in the late 1990s. It will be argued that ASEAN took a catalytic role in bringing together major powers in Northeast Asia at the historical critical juncture precipitated by the Asian financial crisis. The paper then explores a major shift in both Japanese and Chinese policies toward East Asian regionalism, suggesting that full support from the two was crucial for moving the ASEAN+3 process forward. It highlights the different approaches that Japan and China employed in order to strengthen their relationships with ASEAN countries in trade initiatives, financial cooperation, and development cooperation. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]