TCS

On September 29th, 2024, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) delegation headed by Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup participated in the 25th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM25) in Jeju, the Republic of Korea. Prior to the Ministers Meeting, SG LEE also held bilateral meetings with Mr. KIM Wansup, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea, Mr. HUANG Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, and Mr. ITO Shintaro, Minister of Environment of Japan.At the Ministerial Meeting, the Ministers of the three countries gave presentations on the environment policies of each country and exchanged views on key environment issues, and shared best practices and progress achieved in addressing climate change, air quality, plastic waste management, biodiversity conservation, and circular economy.The three ministers were reported on the progress in the implementation of the Tripartite Joint Action Plan (TJAP) and reached consensus on the new priority areas for the next cycle of TJAP, including “Improving Environmental Qualities”; “Promoting Carbon Neutrality and Green Economy”; and “Enhancing Environmental Welfare”. The Meeting adopted the Joint Communiqué as the outcome document.During the Ministerial Meeting, SG LEE delivered his remarks, where he explained the central role of TEMM in consolidating trilateral cooperation for 25 years, and congratulated their achievements being recognized in the Joint Declaration of the 9th Trilateral Summit. He further asserted that TCS will continue to support TEMM through environment programs in the three countries.During his bilateral meetings with the environment ministers of the three countries on September 28th, SG LEE introduced the TCS and its environment-focused projects such as the Trilateral Environment Teachers Exchange Program (TTEP), and the Forum on Carbon Neutrality of China, Japan, and Korea, which received active support and participation from the three ministries. The three Ministers thanked TCS for its continued support for TEMM and expressed their hopes to further expand collaboration in the near future.The Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting was initiated in 1999, and celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. TEMM26 will be held next year in China.▲TEMM25 Meeting▲Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivering remarks at the Meeting (shown on screen)▲Bilateral meeting with Minister KIM Wansup of Ministry of Environment of ROK▲Bilateral meeting with Minister HUANG Runqiu of Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China▲Bilateral meeting with Minister ITO Shinatro of Ministry of Environment of Japan

From September 25 to 27, 2024, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the 17th Trilateral Culture Exchange Forum in Fuzhou, Jiangxi, China. The forum was hosted by the Chinese Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries under the theme of “Traditional Theater of the Three Countries”. SG LEE has been invited as a guest to deliver a remark.At the plenary session, SG Lee delivered a remark on “Achievements and Future Prospects of Trilateral Exchange Cooperation”. In his remark, SG LEE stated that since the Trilateral Summit in May, trilateral cooperation has been revitalized, and exchanges between Korea, China, and Japan have become more active. He highlighted key achievements, including the designation of 2025-2026 as the "Years of Cultural Exchange" and the agreements reached at the Trilateral Culture Minister’s Meeting such as the 2024 Kyoto Declaration to enhance future cultural cooperation. Furthermore, SG LEE emphasized the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges in fostering trust and stability and reaffirmed the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat’s commitment to the successful implementation of these initiatives. Lastly, SG LEE emphasized the significance of the 17th Trilateral Culture Exchange Forum in Fuzhou and extended his gratitude to the China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for organizing the event.Since 2005, the Trilateral Culture Exchange Forum was initiated to promote friendship between Korea, China, and Japan, and has been held annually on rotational basis. Next year’s forum will be hosted in Japan.▲SG LEE delivering a remark▲Group Photo

From September 24 to 26, the 17th Trilateral Cultural Industry Forum was held in Hangzhou, China. Mr. MIAO Muyang, Director-General of the Industrial Development Department of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Mr. KIM Jae-Hyun, Director-General of the International Cultural Policy Bureau of South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. EZAWA Masana, Deputy Director of the Commerce and Service Industry Policy Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and Mr. YAN Liang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat. ▲17th Trilateral Cultural Industry ForumTCS Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang delivered remarks at the forum. He emphasized the importance of cultural exchange, noting its recognition during the 9th Trilateral Summit. He outlined four key suggestions for trilateral cultural industry cooperation: aligning with the trilateral mechanism, focusing on youth-driven initiatives, leveraging platforms for collaboration, and expanding the “CJK+” model to boost global cultural competitiveness.▲TCS Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang Delivering RemarksUnder the theme of "Integrating Digital and Physical Technologies to Empower New Cultural and Tourism Experiences," the “17th Trilateral Cultural Industry Forum Cooperation Initiative” was signed during the forum. It emphasized the vital role of digital technology in advancing the cultural industry and noted successful explorations using cultural IP. The three countries agreed to foster cooperation among businesses, creators, and tech practitioners, aiming to develop new models and industries. They also pledged to strengthen collaboration in IP licensing and protection, promoting the continued growth of the trilateral cultural industries. The Trilateral Cultural Industry Forum is jointly established by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, serves as a key intergovernmental platform for cultural industry cooperation among the three nations. Since its inception in 2002, the forum has rotated between the three countries, making significant contributions to fostering practical cooperation in the cultural industry. The 18th China-Japan-Korea Cultural Industry Forum will be held next year in the ROK.▲Group Photo

On September 24, 2024, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the 21st China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) held in Nanning, China. Comprising a series of flagship events, the 21st CABIS was held under the theme of “Upholding Amity, Sincerity, Mutual Benefit and Inclusiveness for Common Development, Creating a Diamond Crown New Future - Promoting Development of a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and High-Quality Growth of this Region.” SG LEE attended the opening ceremony of CABIS and delivered congratulatory remarks at the China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum, which is part of the CABIS framework.In his remarks, SG LEE stressed that just as the UN embodies global cooperation and the EU reflects European unity, ASEAN + 3 also demonstrates a concerted effort towards cooperation in East Asia. Noting that trilateral cooperation has developed in close partnership with ASEAN, he emphasized that as an international organization committed to trilateral cooperation, TCS has been employing the “Trilateral+X” modality to reach out to ASEAN beyond CJK. His remarks underscored that China-ASEAN cooperation is one of these important three pillars. Noting that ASEAN Plus Three accounts for around 30% of the world population and 25% of global GDP, leading global economic growth, SG LEE stressed that through collective efforts, ASEAN has emerged as the FTA hub of the region, and the three countries continue to lead the global economy, demonstrating remarkable resilience in overcoming challenges and crises. His remarks emphasized the importance for East Asia, a region that has prospered through free trade and globalization, to continue its support for the open, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. He reiterated that TCS would continue to underpin the spirit of unity and collaboration to ensure sustainable development, enabling our region to remain a driving force for global growth.CABIS is an annual economic event co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the national chambers of commerce and industry of ASEAN countries. Since its inception in 2004, the CABIS has evolved into a cornerstone of the economic exchange that spans not only China and ASEAN countries but across the region. TCS has participated in CABIS since the 19th iteration in 2022. Its involvement underscores the commitment to advancing trilateral cooperation in the context of ASEAN frameworks.▲China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum in progress▲TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivering congratulatory remarks▲SG LEE receiving interviews by Chinese media