TCS

On March 22, 2025, the 11th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting was presided by H.E. IWAYA Takeshi, Foreign Minister of Japan, and participated by H.E. WANG Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of China, and H.E.CHO Tae-yul, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup, as well as Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji and Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang also participated in the meeting. The Foreign Ministers assessed the progress and future directions of the trilateral cooperation. Three Ministers concurred on promoting a future-oriented cooperation for the next Trilateral Summit based on the outcomes of the last Summit.Regarding the TCS, the Foreign Ministers commended the achievements and contributions of the TCS, and agreed to extend the term of the secretariat’s Consultative Board, looking forward to the secretariat playing a greater role in promoting trilateral cooperation. In his remarks, SG LEE Hee-sup expressed gratitude to the three Ministers for their unwavering support of trilateral cooperation and the TCS. SG LEE provided an overview of the efforts the TCS has made to advance trilateral cooperation, emphasizing initiatives such as Trilateral +X Cooperation, the "Year of Cultural Exchange 2025-2026," and the importance of strengthening the TCS's capacity building to foster deeper, more comprehensive collaboration.(Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)(Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)

On 20 March 2025, Vice Governor SUN Yong of Anhui Province of China, paid a visit to the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), and met with Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup and Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang. SG LEE extended a warm welcome to Vice Governor SUN and his delegation. He provided an overview of TCS and its key initiatives, highlighting the successful collaboration with Anhui Province in 2023 through the Trilateral Young Rural Leaders’ Exchange Program. He also underscored the significance of local government exchanges, noting that Anhui’s rich tourism resources could serve as a vital platform for enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchanges among China, Japan, and the ROK. Vice Governor SUN expressed his appreciation for TCS’s efforts in fostering regional cooperation and reaffirmed Anhui Province’s commitment to establishing a long-term collaboration mechanism, particularly in trade, environmental protection, and cultural and tourism exchanges. He emphasized the province’s dedication to deepening trilateral cooperation in these areas and extended an invitation to SG LEE to attend the RCEP Huangshan Forum, which will be held in Anhui Province. ▲Group Photo▲SG LEE meeting with Vice Governor SUN

The Meeting of Ambassadors for International Relations and the 2025 NEAR Member Government Workshop* took place from March 12 to 14, 2025, in Jeju, Korea. The event brought together approximately 120 participants, including officials from 46 local governments across six countries—China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan—and representatives from six related organizations. Throughout the workshop, there were presentations and discussions on proposals for the NEAR Secretariat, as well as key policies and initiatives from member governments aimed at addressing common challenges in Northeast Asia. TCS Secretary-General Lee Hee-sup delivered a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony.In his remarks, SG LEE highlighted the vital role of cooperation and exchange among local governments in Northeast Asia amid an increasingly uncertain global landscape. Recognizing NEAR’s key role in fostering multilateral collaboration, he reaffirmed TCS’ commitment to deepening exchanges, particularly among local governments in China, Japan, and Korea, in a stronger partnership with NEAR.*The NEAR Member Government Workshop is an annual event held to strengthen network and people-to-people exchange among member government. The workshop also aims to benchmark the event plans for the year and the successful policies of member governments.▲SG LEE delivering congratulatory remarks▲Group photo

On March 11, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), jointly organized the 4th Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The Forum was supported by the Shenzhen International Low-Carbon Forum Development Center.The theme of this year’s Forum was “Carbon neutrality and sustainable urban development”, with a focus on smart and inclusive solutions for sustainable urban development. Government officials and experts from the three countries, as well as international organizations, joined the event to share relevant policies and field experience in carbon neutrality and green urban planning.At the Opening Session, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup explained the importance of building sustainable urban spaces, especially in the context of China, Japan, and Korea, which has one of the largest urban populations in the world. Due to these contexts, SG LEE emphasized that the three countries will play an important role in regional carbon neutrality goals.Through her remarks, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, also stressed the critical role of CJK in sharing solutions for sustainable urban development, given its rich experience in urbanization, economic growth, and technological innovation. She pointed out that the Forum has played a pivotal role in amplifying carbon neutrality commitment in Asia-Pacific since its inception in 2021.LIU Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of China, presented China’s active participation in green, low-carbon development during his keynote speech. He further expressed his hopes of China, Japan, and Korea making positive contributions in addressing climate change in Asia-Pacific through sharing knowledge and experiences in various sectors.For Session 1, government officials from CJK discussed each country’s updates on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) since COP29 and relevant policy directions. Session 2 shifted the discourse into more practical knowledge-sharing; representatives from various sectors (private sector, local government, international organizations) shared their experience and case studies on utilizing smart, inclusive solutions for building sustainable green cities.The outcomes of the Forum will be presented to the dialogue on subregional cooperation during the 81st ESCAP Commission Session and will also be reported to the 26th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting.  ▲Group photo▲TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivering Opening Remarks▲Keynote speech from LIU Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of China▲Session 1: High-level dialogue on updates on pathways to the carbon neutrality goals of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea and regional cooperation▲Session 2: Accelerating progress to achieving carbon neutrality goals through smart, inclusive solutions for sustainable urban development▲Tea break networking session