TCS

On November 22, 2024, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup participated as a panelist in the KDCA Symposium & Roundtable on Climate Change and Health held in Seoul. The event aimed to share knowledge and insights in the health sector to address the climate crisis and strengthen collaborations to mitigate its health impacts. The symposium's thematic sessions featured presentations on health vulnerability assessments and adaptation strategies related to climate change. These sessions included updates on the status of climate-health impact assessments in various countries, as well as mid- and long-term strategic plans. Following the symposium, the Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) chaired a high-level roundtable session. Global public health leaders and experts from various fields engaged in a discussion on "Global Perspectives and Future Challenges in the Health Sector Related to Climate Change." During the session, TCS Secretary-General LEE referenced the 9th Trilateral Summit held on May 27, 2024, which designated "Sustainable Development through Climate Change Response" as one of six key cooperation areas. He emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among neighboring countries to address the climate crisis and disasters, advocating for practical cooperation and support through a dedicated consultative body for climate and health. As a result of this event, the participating countries and related institutions agreed to establish a comprehensive cooperation framework and build legal and institutional infrastructure to address urgent public health challenges posed by the climate crisis. They committed to expanding a global network of climate-health experts, developing a global action plan, advocating policy changes, and prioritizing efforts to tackle the climate crisis together.▲High-Level Roundtable*Panel: JEE Youngmee (Commissioner, KDCA), LEE Hee-sup (Secretary-General of TCS, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat), Professor Masahiro Hashizume (University of Tokyo), Eduardo Banzon (Director, Asian Development Bank), Vincent Bretin (Director, Unitaid), Isabel Oliver (Chief Scientific Advisor, UK Health Security Agency), and OH Jin-Hee (Director, Risk Response Division, KDCA).

On November 17, 2024, the 11th CJK Cooperation Dialogue was held in Hainan, China. The event was hosted by the China Institute of Reform and Development (CIRD), Japan Economic Foundation (JEF) and East Asia Foundation (EAF) of the ROK, with support from the TCS. TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivered remarks during the Opening Ceremony. SG LEE highlighted the positives outcomes of the 9th Trilateral Summit, emphasizing the significance of people-to-people exchange including youth exchanges such as the CAMPUS Asia Program, and the upcoming "Year of Cultural Exchange" (2025–2026), aimed at fostering mutual understanding and co-prosperity. He remarked that the trilateral cooperation among China, Japan, and Korea have matured through a period of adolescence, marked by remarkable growth and institutionalization despite challenges posed by regional and global uncertainties. He underscored the importance of holding the Trilateral Summit on a regular basis and for TCS to have a larger role in facilitating Trilateral Cooperation, extending the benefits of cooperation beyond the region through “Trilateral + X” cooperation.This year’s Dialogue brought together experts and stakeholders from the three countries under the theme “Promoting Institutionalization of CJK Trilateral Cooperation”. The Plenary Session was followed by two thematic dialogues, namely "Accelerating the CJK Trilateral Free Trade Process under the RCEP Framework” and “Major Task for Achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goals”. The “Youth Dialogue” was a notable addition to this year’s program which was co-organized by the TCS in partnership with CIRD, JEF and EAF. This new initiative aims to engage the younger generation in trilateral cooperation, focusing on two key fronts: “Emerging Technologies and the New Generation of Youth in CJK” and "Strengthening Cross-Cultural Exchange and Cooperation among the Youth of CJK”. The Youth Dialogue featured participants from diverse fields, including technology, academia, and local government exchange, fostering dynamic discussions on the role of youth in shaping the future of CJK relations.▲SG LEE delivering remarks▲Group Photo▲Youth Dialogue Session 1▲Youth Dialogue Session 2

On 15 November, the Conference on Economic Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia, hosted by Kyonggi University, Korea Institute of Finance, Peking University, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Korea, and supported by Korean Financial Services Commission and Chinese Embassy in Korea, was held in Suwon, ROK. Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) delegation led by Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang attended the Conference. In his remark, DSG YAN highlighted the progress and achievement of the trilateral cooperation, including the recent Trilateral Summit in Seoul, which prioritized economic, trade, and digital transformation as key cooperation areas. Emphasizing the growing economic ties between China and ROK, such as their substantial trade volume and increasing personnel exchanges, he expressed optimism for future cooperation driven by digital economy advancements and RCEP implementation. He futher underlined the importance of collective efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth, affirming the TCS’s support of the trilateral economic cooperation.Mr. KIM Soyoung, Vice President of Korean Financial Services Commission, Mr. Lee Yunkyung, President of Kyonggi University, Mr. DONG Zhiyong, Vice President of Peking University, and Mr. FANG Kun, Chargé d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in Korea delivered remarks. At the plenary session themed “Strategy of Digitalization and Economic Growth”, professors from Seoul National University, Peking University, Aichi University, and other universities in CJK engaged in an in-depth discussion on potential strategies and approaches for advancing trilateral economic cooperation and development.▲Group Photo

On November 15, 2024, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Zushi Shuji of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) delivered a special lecture at Kobe University.In his lecture, DSG Zushi began by sharing insights into his career as a diplomat before introducing the history and functions of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat. He also highlighted key youth focused projects, encouraging students to actively engage with TCS’s youth programs, such as the Trilateral Youth Summit (TYS) and the Young Ambassador Program (YAP), which are part of the Trilateral Youth Exchange Network (TYEN) Platform.The lecture drew an audience of over 100 students, who actively participated during the Q&A session by asking a range of thoughtful questions.▲Lecture at Kobe University▲DSG Zushi introducing TCS history▲Q&A session