TCS

Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the 2025 RCEP Media and Think Tank For um in Haikou On May 25, the 2025 RCEP Regional Development Media and Think Tank Forum was held in Haikou, China, under the theme “ Jointly Building a High-Level and Largest Free Trade Area.” The forum was co-hosted by the China (Hainan) Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD), China Daily, and the China Oceanic Development Foundation. Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) LEE Hee-sup, was invited to attend and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony.In his speech, SG LEE emphasized the urgent need for deeper regional cooperation amid rising global fragmentation and protectionism, noting that trilateral cooperation is like an orchestra, where each stakeholder plays a vital role. He reaffirmed RCEP’s role as a stabilizing force and called for its upgrade through expanded membership, greater openness, and exploring convergence with frameworks like CPTPP. Citing progress at the 9th Trilateral Summit and the revived Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting, he expressed hope for advancing CJK FTA negotiations. He also highlighted the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Korea and China as key opportunities.During the interview with Sansha Satellite TV, SG LEE shared his perspectives on RCEP implementation, regional economic integration, and the strategic role of Hainan in advancing free trade cooperation across East Asia.The forum also featured insights from Mr. CHI Fulin, President of the CIRD, who stressed the strategic role of Hainan in connecting China with ASEAN markets. Other speakers, including Mr. WU Shicun of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Mr. Samir Hamrouni of the World Free Zones Organization, emphasized the importance of policy execution, institutional innovation, and international best practices to strengthen Hainan’s position within RCEP.Since its inception in 2021, the RCEP Media and Think Tank Forum has become a key platform for dialogue and cooperation across the region, helping to shape policy consensus and promote high-level regional integration. This year’s forum brought together nearly 400 participants from governments, academia, industry, think tanks, and media across RCEP member states. ▲SG LEE delivering remarks▲Group Photo▲SG LEE Sharing moment with Participant

On May 23, 2025, the 4th Trilateral Youth Speech Contest (TYSC) was successfully held at Dongseo University’s Centum Campus in Busan, Korea. Co-hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) and Dongseo University, the event welcomed 12 outstanding youth representatives from China, Japan and Korea, all of whom advanced through a competitive preliminary round. Under the theme “Bridging Today, Empowering Tomorrow: Stories of CJK Exchange,” participants delivered compelling speeches that reflected their unique perspectives, experiences, and hopes for trilateral cooperation.The opening ceremony was attended by TCS Secretary-General LEE Heesup, Dongseo University President Jang Je-guk, NAGAFUCHI Kenji, Deputy Consul-General of Japan in Busan, and YU Lifei, Deputy Consul-General of China in Busan, along with an audience of over 200 people.In his opening remarks, SG LEE noted that TYSC has grown into a platform for cultural exchange and meaningful dialogue, expressing hope that youth voices will sow the seeds of future trilateral cooperation. President JANG highlighted the university’s role in regional exchange through programs like CAMPUS Asia and hoped the contest would inspire a shared vision for the future. Deputy Consul-General NAGAFUCHI emphasized that learning each other’s languages fosters deeper understanding and hoped the event would enrich the 2025-26 Year of Cultural Exchange among the three countries. Deputy Consul-General YU noted that youth are the driving force of the future and expressed hope the contest would help build a strong foundation for continued trilateral collaboration.The contest featured two categories – Specialist and Challenger – where participants delivered heartfelt speeches reflecting their experiences with trilateral exchanges and offering thought-provoking insights on a wide range of topics, earning warm applause from the audience. Award presentations were conducted by representatives from the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulates of Japan and China in Busan, and the TCS. Trophies and certificates were awarded to the top three winners in each category. Held as part of the 2025–2026 CJK Year of Cultural Exchange, this year’s contest was aligned with the CJK Spirit Word of the Year 2025: “Future (未来)”. TCS remains committed to fostering youth engagement and promoting deeper mutual understanding among the three nations through continued exchange and dialogue.■ List of Awardees [Specialist Category] 1st Prize: CHOI Myoungjun 최명준 2nd Prize: CHO Kanghyun 조강현 3rd Prize: XU Jingxiang 许 静香 [Challenger Category] 1st Prize: MOROMIZATO Anna 諸見里 安奈 2nd Prize: KIM Jaemin 김재민 3rd Prize: JIN Xiaoyan 金 晓燕▲The 4th Trilateral Youth Speech Contest Held in Busan, Korea▲SG’s Opening Remarks▲VIPs and Judges▲Speech Contest▲Q&As

On May 20, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) participated in the China-Japan-ROK Water Youth Exchange Seminar held in Chengdu, China. The Seminar was hosted by International Economic and Technical Cooperation and Exchange Center (INTCE), Ministry of Water Resources of China. It was attended by representatives from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea, and young professionals from the three countries. TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended and delivered remarks.The Seminar was convened under the theme of “Water Security Under Multiple Challenges,” consisting of three technical sessions and one youth discussion session. In his remarks during the opening session, SG LEE noted the increasing frequency and severity of water-related disasters, underscoring the importance of youth-led collaboration in achieving SDG 6. He emphasized the outcomes of the recent Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Water Resources and TCS’s commitment to supporting practical cooperation across policy, research, and future leadership development.Notable remarks were also delivered by Mr. HAO Zhao, Director General of INTCE, Mr. MARUYAMA Kazuki, Division Director of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Mr. LEE Seunghwan, Director General of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea.Session I focused on “Flood Control and Disaster Mitigation,” exploring climate impacts on water systems, smart flood forecasting technologies, and policy responses across the region. Session II addressed “Efficient Utilization of Water Resources,” highlighting innovations such as water diversion infrastructure, groundwater monitoring, and UNESCO’s efforts to empower youth in the water sector.Session III focused on “River and Lake Ecological Protection,” featuring national case studies on ecological governance, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable waterway management.On May 21, youth delegates engaged in group discussions on water challenges and cooperation, which culminated in the endorsement of the “Chengdu Initiative by China-Japan-ROK Water Youth.” This initiative outlined collective goals in strengthening regional water governance through innovation, knowledge exchange, and inclusive participation.▲SG LEE Hee-sup delivering remarks▲Mr. HAO Zhao, Director General, INTCE, Ministry of Water Resources, China delivering remarks▲MARUYAMA Kazuki, Division Director, MLIT, Japan delivering remarks▲LEE Seunghwan, Director General, Ministry of Environment, ROK delivering remarks▲Meeting in progress▲Group Photo

On May 17, the 1st “Trilateral + X” Cooperation Think Tank Forum co-hosted by Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR) and Yonsei University and supported by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) was held in Shanghai, China. The forum was themed “Enhancing Regional Resilience: Pathways for East Asian Cooperation in Turbulent Times”. TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the forum and delivered an opening remark. More than 30 experts from China, Japan, the ROK and ASEAN participated in the forum and shared insights on political, economic and social-cultural cooperation in East Asia.In the opening session, TCS SG LEE introduced the achievements of decades of trilateral cooperation, as well as the efforts made by the TCS since it was eastablished in 2011. He pointed out that the whole region and the world is undergoing turbulent changes and uncertainties, so that the three countries should work together and explore more opportunities of enhancing common interests and combating common challenges, such as aging population, public health, disaster management, climate change and so on. He emphasized that the TCS would like to further strengthen its cooperation with think tanks of the three countries and beyond to create more platforms for mutual intellectual exchanges in the region and provide more wisdom support for future “Trilareral+X” cooperation.Witnessed by the TCS Secretary-General, the representatives of SIIS, JFIR and Yonsei University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for future cooperation and rotaitionaly holding the forum in the three countries.▲SG LEE delivering opening remark▲Signing Ceromony of the MOU on Trilateral Think Tank Cooperation▲Group Photo