TCS

On September 28, TCS Secretary-General Amb. OU Boqian met with Ms. MIZUTORI Mami, Special Representative of the United Nations secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk reduction (UNDRR) during the International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2022 in Incheon. Mr. Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of the UNDRR Office for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute (ONEA-GETI) was also in attendance.SG OU extended her gratitude for the UNDRR’s partnership with TCS, including a recent disaster risk reduction (DRR) lecture for participants of the 7th Trilateral Journalist Exchange Program in August. Mentioning China, Japan and ROK agreed to ensure steady implementation of Sendai Framework and promote capacity building on DRR at the 7th Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management, she expressed further cooperation on the mid-term review of Sendai Framework in collaboration with UNDRR, the three ministries and CJK DRR institutions. Furthermore, with the help of UNDRR, TCS would like to enrich a DRR aspect in TCS projects, especially youth projects, and to disseminate good DRR practices of the three countries in collaboration with ASEAN countries.Ms. MIZUTORI thanked SG OU for the cooperation with UNDRR ONEA GETI for various DRR seminars and publication. She, echoing with SG OU on involvement of media and youth, shared the importance of more TV broadcasting companies sharing disaster alerts on TV and the crucial role of youth for strengthening DRR as they have innovative and creative ideas with advanced knowledge in technology. She would like to see the cooperation between the two organizations grow further to promote DRR capacity building and implement the Sendai Framework in the region and beyond.

On September 28, TCS Secretary-General Amb. OU Boqian participated in the International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2022 in Incheon and delivered the opening and congratulatory remarks at the opening session. The forum was hosted by UNDRR, Incheon Metropolitan City, Incheon Institute, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. TCS was a co-organizer of the Forum. Representatives of local cities and experts on disaster risk reduction (DRR) from various countries attended the Forum.In her remarks, highlighting the importance of regularly sharing the DRR experiences and policies to learn from each other for further enhanced capacities, SG OU wished that the outcome of the forum with participation of prominent experts and practitioners from all over the world will be a great tailwind for implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and noted that TCS is committed to further enhancing regional and international cooperation in DRR in collaboration with key stakeholders. In the Forum, Ms. MIZUTORI Mami, Head of UNDRR, and Mr. YOO Jeong-bok Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City and H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, attended and delivered remarks.▲SG OU delivered the Opening and Congratulatory Remarks▲Group Photo at the Opening Session▲SG OU observed a DRR robot with Mr. YOO, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City

On September 26, 2022, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Secretary-General OU Boqian delivered a special lecture at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of International Studies. Titled “Shaping Our Future: Trilateral Cooperation among China, the Republic of Korea and Japan,” the lecture aimed to promote understanding of Trilateral Cooperation and was joined by over 30 students and faculty members.In the lecture, Secretary-General OU introduced the history and development of Trilateral Cooperation, highlighting its role in driving regional and global economic growth and stability. By listing up various challenges that beget both exogenous and endogenous needs and demands for cooperation, Secretary-General OU stressed that China, Japan and the Republic of Korea ought to remain committed to creating a positive impact on lasting peace and common prosperity of Northeast Asia. TCS would support this process through close collaboration and partnership with the government, academia, business and the civil society. Secretary-General OU then introduced some of key youth projects at TCS, such as the Young Ambassador Program, Campus Asia Alumni Network, and the Trilateral Youth Exchange Network, and called for the students’ interest and support.Students actively engaged in Q&A session and asked questions about impetuses through whichs the Trilateral Cooperation remains stable despite constant changes in the political landscape of member states, as well as about the changes in the region that came with the establishment of the TCS.▲Group photo with Professor PARK Tae Gyun and SNU GSIS students▲TCS SG OU Boqian with Prof. PARK Tae Gyun▲During lecture

On 23 September 2022, TCS Secretary-General OU Boqian attended the RCEP Think Tank Network Launching Meeting online as a special guest and delivered congratulatory remarks. The Meeting was hosted by the China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD). Representatives of think tank parties and media participated in the Meeting and shared insights on the expected roles of the Network in process of facilitating the high-quality implementation of the RCEP Agreement.SG OU, in her remarks, spoke highly of the RCEP in boosting trade and economic exchanges among China, Japan and the ROK as it is the first-ever free trade agreement binding the three countries together. She underlined that the role of the think tank is not only to build a platform for academic exchange and share research outcomes, but also to advise the public and serve enterprises. She suggested the Network focus on the research in the areas that are of high concern to the government, enterprise, market and public such as how to promote the high-quality implementation of the RCEP, capacity building of low-income member states, how to tackle the disruptions of global and regional supply chains, etc. She put emphasis on the role of the Network in providing policy recommendations to the government, bringing more confidence to enterprises and market, and helping answer public concerns. In this regard, she added that it is crucial for the think tank to provide authoritative information to underpin such efforts. The RCEP Think Tank Network was initiated by the China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD) and the East Asian Institute of National University of Singapore with the participation of 13 think tanks in total from 9 RCEP member states. With the aim of creating an open and shared academic cooperation network and offering intellectual support for advancing the RCEP process, the Network will promote multi-layered exchanges and collaboration among RCEP members through carrying out forums, capacity-building training programs, and joint research, etc.News article of gist of SG OU’s remarks at the Meeting:https://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202209/24/WS632e8e3ba310817f312efa1c.html▲TCS Secretary-General Amb. Ou Boqian delivering remarks▲Meeting in Progress