Seminar & Forum The International Forum for Trilateral Cooperation (IFTC) 2016 and the 1st Trilateral Forum on Public Diplomacy
2016-04-29
The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) organized the International Forum for the Trilateral Cooperation (IFTC) 2016 and the 1st Trilateral Forum on Public Diplomacy on April 29, 2016 at Diaoyutai State House in Beijing, China, in collaboration with China Public Diplomacy Association.
Under the theme of “Deepening dialogue and communication, pushing trilateral cooperation to a new level”, this Forum is a timely follow-up to the 6th Trilateral Summit, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of public diplomacy in enhancing understanding and friendship among the peoples of China, Japan and Korea.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Mr. Zhang Yesui attended the Forum and delivered opening remarks. He emphasized that the deepening of the trilateral cooperation needs solid political foundation and wide public support. He called on the three countries to address related issues properly and to work together to improve bilateral relations and to strengthen trilateral cooperation, in the spirit of facing history squarely and advancing towards the future.
Dignitaries from the three countries, Vice-Chairman of the 9th and 10th NPC Standing Committee of China Mr. Xu Jialu, Former Prime Minister of the ROK Mr. Goh Kun, and Chairman of General Council, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Mr. Nikai Toshihiro delivered keynote speeches to share their insights and expectation for the development of the trilateral cooperation.
The Forum attracted more than 350 participants from the three countries as well as foreign missions in China, including high-ranking government officials, renowned scholars and prominent stakeholders in business, social and media circles.
Speakers from the three countries engaged in heated discussion and shared their wisdom on the trilateral cooperation in the following three sessions: 1) “Seeking Commonality: Trilateral Cooperation for Peace and Stability in Northeast Asia and Global Prosperity”, 2) High Complementarities and Great Potential of the Three Economies: Essence of Trilateral Cooperation, 3) Promoting People-to-People and Media Exchange: Enhancing Mutual Understanding and Friendship. The speakers addressed a wide range of topics of common interest, including Northeast Asia security issue, CJK FTA, trilateral production capacity cooperation, youth, cultural and media cooperation, etc.
TCS Secretary General Yang Houlan stated in his closing remarks that the three countries are influenced by East Asian civilization and share a lot of cultural commonalities, which lay natural foundation for public diplomacy cooperation among the three countries. He added that the ultimate goal of public diplomacy is to connect people’s hearts and minds. This cause needs great support not only from the three governments, but also from the wide social communities. He stated that the TCS stands ready to serve as a bridge for sincere communication and friendly exchange among the people of the three countries.
An exhibition of “808 Commonly Used Chinese Characters among China, Japan and Korea” was also held as a side event.
Since 2011, the IFTC is one of the brand projects of the TCS to raise public awareness of the trilateral cooperation, as well as to provide future-oriented policy recommendation to the three governments. This is the first time of the TCS to organize the IFTC in China.
