TCS

The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) announced the launch of the “CJK Word of the Year 2026” voting campaign, co-hosted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK MOFA). This annual initiative aims to promote mutual understanding and cultural affinity among the peoples of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea by selecting a symbolic word that best represents trilateral cooperation. The online voting will be open from October 20 to November 20, 2025. Citizens of the three countries can choose one out of six candidate —Mutual Benefit (互惠/互惠/호혜), Friendship (友好/友好/우호), Trust (信赖/信頼/신뢰), Understanding (理解/理解/이해), Embracement (包容/包容/포용), and Promotion·Acceleration (促进/促進/촉진)—and the selected “CJK Word of the Year 2026” will be officially announced on January 1, 2026.For more information on how to participate in the campaign, please visit the official voting website (https://cjkword.tcs-asia.org/). After the voting period concludes, selected participants will receive giveaway prizes through a lucky draw.In the previous campaign, “Future (未来/미래)” was chosen as the CJK Word of the Year 2025, reflecting people’s common wish to build a hopeful future together. The selection carried special meaning as it coincided with the “2025–2026 Year of China-Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange.” In 2024, the word “Exchange (交流/교류)” was selected, and in 2023, “Harmony (和合/화합)” was chosen.Marking its fourth edition this year, the “CJK Word of the Year” campaign has become one of TCS’s signature public projects, encouraging communication and mutual understanding among citizens of the three countries through the Chinese characters. TCS will continue to promote friendship and cooperation among the peoples of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea by fostering shared values that bridge cultures and borders.

On November 7, 2025, a delegation from the Institute of Asian Studies, China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), led by Acting Director Ms. YANG Yue, paid a visit to the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS). TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji warmly welcomed the delegation.DSG ZUSHI highlighted the long-standing partnership between TCS and CFAU under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and commended CFAU’s active support for TCS initiatives and its substantial contributions to advancing trilateral cooperation, particularly in areas such as youth exchanges and policy coordination. He also recognized CFAU’s important role as the Chinese focal point of the Network of Trilateral Cooperation Think-Tanks (NTCT) and reaffirmed TCS’s commitment to supporting CFAU’s continued efforts in NTCT.Acting Director YANG expressed her appreciation for TCS’s support and recalled the successful cooperation between the two organizations through programs such as NTCT, the internship program, and the 2023 Trilateral Youth Summit. She briefed DSG ZUSHI on CFAU’s recent work and progress related to NTCT and looked forward to TCS’s ongoing support. She also expressed expectations to further strengthen cooperation with TCS under the MOU and explore new opportunities for collaboration and exchange.▲Group Photo

On November 6, 2025, the 1st Trilateral IP Startup Camp (TIPSC) successfully concluded in Beijing, China, following four days of training, mentorship, and cross-border collaboration focused on Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence.In his remarks at the closing ceremony, TCS Economic Affairs Director XU Hongda congratulated all participants on the successful conclusion of the 1st Trilateral IP Startup Camp and expressed sincere appreciation to the co-host China Intellectual Property Training Center (CIPTC) and supporting partners, Japan National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) and the Korea International Intellectual Property Training Institute (KIIPTI) for their valuable collaboration. He noted that the Camp not only marked a meaningful first step in TCS’s engagement in the IP field but also resonated with the broader regional and global drive for innovation, particularly in light of recent APEC initiatives on AI and demographic transformation. Mr. XU expressed the hope to continue engaging with all stakeholders to further enhance and refine the program in the future.Throughout the program, conducted under the theme "Intellectual Synergy, Innovation for the Future," young entrepreneurs from China, Japan, and ROK deepened their understanding of IP protection and utilization in emerging technologies. This included attending four expert lectures that provided up-to-date insights into the intersection of AI and IP. OUYANG Rihui, Vice Dean of the China Center for Internet Economy Research, shared with participants insights on "Major Future Application Scenarios of AI Technology." CAO Jia, VP/CTO of Zhongke Wenge Technology Co., Ltd., explored with participants the latest "Developments and Trends in Artificial Intelligence Technology." LIU Haibo, Member of the Academic Committee of the Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave a lecture on "Intellectual Property Entrepreneurship Support Policies & Case Studies." Finally, BA Te, Deputy Director General of the South-South Global Technology Exchange, used case studies to showcase "Layout for AI Startups at Different Stages."A central component of this program was the collaborative workshop where participants, divided into two groups, developed and refined business models integrating comprehensive IP strategies. The resulting final presentations showcased creative and practical solutions to pressing social issues, leading to the recognition of two outstanding teams. The team that proposed a smart mirror solution to address challenges faced by an aging society received the Innovation Award, while the team that developed a smart shield (phishing damage prevention service) focused on preventing fraud and financial damage was honored with the Excellence Award. To gain practical knowledge of corporate IP strategies, the participants undertook two important site visits to leading Chinese enterprises, Tencent and JD.com. These visits offered helpful firsthand insights into how major corporations implement and manage their Intellectual Property and innovation strategies within a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The successful completion of the 1st TIPSC solidified its role as an important platform for future leadership development in IP-driven innovation across the three nations.▲Group Photo after the Closing Ceremony▲Lecture session▲Business Plan Presentation on Smart Mirror▲Business Plan Presentation on Smart Shield▲Exchange with Tencent IP experts▲Group Photo at Tencent▲Site Visiting to JD.com▲Group Photo at JD.com

On November 6th 2025, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivered remarks at 13th Population Policy Forum in Hangzhou, China. The Forum was hosted by the China Population and Development Research Center (CPDRC), organized by Zhejiang Urban Governance Studies Center. The governmental officials of the National Health Commission of China, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of ROK, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan as well as the experts of the research institutes of the three countries participated in the seminar. Participants shared insights on the current situation and solutions under the two themes: Delayed Marriage and Non-marriage: Phenomena, Causes, and Policy Responses” and “Prevention and Community Intervention of Dementia.” During his remarks, SG LEE mentioned that low birth rates and rapid aging pose severe common challenges to the three countries. He cited 2023 total fertility rates of 0.72, 1.0, and 1.2 respectively of ROK, China and Japan, alongside Japan having the world’s highest rate of aging, ROK the fastest-aging, and China the largest elderly population. SG Lee identified structural causes including gender inequality and unbalanced family duties as fundamental drivers of low birth rates, urging societal reforms. He stressed that enhanced trilateral cooperation through policy sharing, healthcare collaboration, and academic alliances, proposing an institutionalized consultation mechanism to jointly address the socio-economic impacts of demographic decline. He reaffirmed TCS’s commitment to facilitating policy dialogue and collaboration among the three governments and international partners to jointly address demographic challenges.▲SG LEE delivering remarks▲Group Photo