TCS

On December 14, 2025, the 18th Tripartite Health Ministers’ Meeting (THMM) was held in Seoul, Korea. Chaired by Minister JEONG Eun-Kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea, the Meeting was attended by Minister UENO Kenichiro of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Acting Director-General FENG Yong of the National Health Commission of China, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Saia Ma’u Piukala, and Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS).In his remarks, SG LEE underscored the importance of maintaining uninterrupted trilateral health cooperation amid regional and global uncertainties. He emphasized that health cooperation lies at the core of trilateral collaboration, as it directly affects people’s lives, wellbeing, and dignity. He also highlighted the significance of the THMM as a highly institutionalized mechanism that has continued to function even during periods when other trilateral processes were suspended.The Meeting focused on three key themes: AI and Digital Health for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Healthy Ageing, and Mental Health. Under these themes, participants exchanged policy experiences and best practices on strengthening health systems, addressing population ageing, enhancing mental health services, and leveraging digital technologies to promote equitable access to healthcare. The discussions reaffirmed the need for closer, multi-layered cooperation to effectively address shared health challenges in the region.The Meeting concluded with the adoption of the Joint Statement of the 18th Tripartite Health Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming the three countries’ shared commitment to advancing trilateral health cooperation. The 19th THMM will be held in China in 2026.▲Meeting in progress▲Group Photo

On December 12, 2025, the Plus Urban Design Award event was held in Seoul, ROK. The event attracted participants from designers, architects, and experts from China, Japan, and the ROK.In the video congratulatory message, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Deputy Secretary-General Yan Liang highlighted that urban issues have become an important part of the TCS's work as cities in Northeast Asia grow and face new challenges. He noted that urban design is crucial because it directly shapes people's daily lives, movement, interaction, and connection to their communities. He also mentioned that the region's challenges, such as aging populations, dense urban environments, and climate pressures, require thoughtful planning and innovative design. Award recipients delivered presentations on their respective projects related to urban design and culture and shared their experiences.▲Group Photo

Deputy Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), ZUSHI Shuji, attended the opening ceremony of the 23rd Japan–Korea–China TV Creators Forum held in Kitakyushu, Japan on December 9, 2025. The event brought together over 200–250 producers, broadcasters, and streaming professionals to explore collaborative initiatives in the rapidly evolving content industry.Since its establishment in 2001, the Forum has become a leading platform for cultural exchange and cooperation in the film and television sector in Northeast Asia. This year’s Forum was hosted by the All Japan TV Program Production Companies (ATP) and the Association of Broadcast Critics, co-organized with the City of Kitakyushu. The TCS supported the event this year as a cooperating organization.During the opening ceremony, DSG ZUSHI delivered remarks and emphasized the significance of convening the Forum in 2025, which marks both the 60th Anniversary of Japan–ROK Normalization and the Year of Japan-China-Korea Cultural Exchange. He stressed that cultural and people-to-people exchanges play a vital role in building mutual understanding and goodwill among younger generations—forming the foundation for long-term peace and co-prosperity in Northeast Asia.This year’s theme, “Broadcast & Streaming Content Business: Insights and Innovation from the Creators’ Perspective,” positioned the Forum as a creator-centered platform, with the aim of advancing global content development. Participants engaged in keynote lectures, presentations, panel discussions, and pitching sessions aimed at supporting new collaborative content initiatives.DSG ZUSHI reaffirmed the TCS’s commitment to further strengthening audiovisual cooperation among the three countries, including through youth-focused creative initiatives, and expressed hope that the discussions at the Forum would continue to foster new partnerships and advance regional cultural exchange.▲DSG ZUSHI delivering his remarks

On December 8, 2025, TCS Deputy Secretary-General Yan Liang met with Mr. Zha Yuxi, Party Secretary of Shandong University of Finance and Economics (SDUFE), and representatives of the university to discuss future cooperation. DSG Yan highly commended SDUFE for its proactive efforts in advancing international education and promoting cultural exchange among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean students. He noted that SDUFE’s commitment to fostering youth dialogue aligns closely with the TCS mandate to strengthen people-to-people exchange in the region. Mr. Zha and the delegation expressed their sincere appreciation for the TCS’s continuous support, noting that DSG Yan’s previous lecture at the campus had been warmly received by students and had sparked strong interest in trilateral cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed the shared view that deepening exchanges—particularly in youth engagement, academic collaboration, and joint research—will contribute meaningfully to enhancing mutual understanding among the three countries. Both sides agreed to maintain close communication and explore concrete cooperation opportunities moving forward.▲ Group Photo