Trilateral Cooperation
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Secretariat News
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TC ActivitiesTCS Held the 18th CJK Children’s Story Exchange Program (Alumni Program)From August 17th to 23rd, 2024, the CJK Children’s Story Exchange (CSE) program took place in Tokyo and Gunma, Japan. This year, the program welcomed 100 elementary students from Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) who participated in the main storybook-making event. Additionally, 18 alumni students from previous CJK programs participated in a special sub-program focused on cultural exchange activities and networking. The children's program was organized by the National Institute for Youth Education (NIYE), while the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), serving as the official co-organizer of the alumni program, coordinated the alumni event.At the opening ceremony, TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji emphasized that this year's theme, "water," symbolizes the vital cross-border cooperation among the three countries. He referenced the recent 9th Trilateral Summit held in May 2024, noting that initiatives like the Children’s Story Exchange were affirmed during the summit as crucial for fostering international collaboration. He expressed hope that the success of this project would inspire greater cooperation among the younger generation, who will shape the future of CJK relations.The Alumni Program commenced on August 17th with a series of engaging activities in Tokyo. Alumni participants took part in orientation sessions, icebreaking activities, game nights, lectures, and a creative workshops. These activities laid the groundwork for meaningful interactions and set the tone for the rest of the program.From August 19th to 23rd, the alumni participants continued their journey in Gunma, where they engaged in a variety of enriching cultural activities. These included site visits to the Shorinzan Daruma Temple, Kamitsukeno Sato Museum, Harada Farm, Mizukikoukan (Water Journey Museum), among other significant cultural locations. A highlight of the program was the group performances prepared by the alumni participants, which were showcased in front of the children participants and representatives from the CJK host institutions. These performances served as a testament to the bonds of friendship formed during the program.The CJK Children’s Story Exchange Program was first established in 2002 in Japan, with the goal of encouraging reading and promoting mutual understanding among children from Japan, China, and the ROK through storybooks and fairytales. In 2011, the program adopted a trilateral format, with the three countries agreeing to host the event on a rotational basis. The Alumni Program, launched in 2013, has become a vital component of the CSE initiative. Since 2017, when the CSE was held in Seoul, ROK, TCS has been designated as the official co-organizer of the Alumni Program, taking responsibility for the program’s coordination.▲Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI delivering Congratulatory Remarks▲Group Photo2024.08.17 ~ 2024.08.23
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OthersMeeting with Mr. Kamal Kishore, UNDRR Special Representative for Disaster Risk ReductionOn August 22, 2024, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup and Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji met with Mr. Kamal Kishore, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), as well as Mr. Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of UNDRR Office for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute (ONEA & GETI) also attended the meeting.SG LEE expressed his appreciation for the UNDRR delegation’s visit and acknowledged the longstanding partnership between the TCS and UNDRR, including their collaborative efforts in organizing various events. By mentioning upcoming plans and proactive ideas, such as dialogues with NGOs and cultural initiatives, he demonstrated his commitment to promoting disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacity building in this region and beyond.DSG ZUSHI mentioned that Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, designated as a Culture City of East Asia (CCEA), had canceled the implementation of related activities due to difficulties arising from earthquake recovery efforts earlier in the year. He also recognized the significance of disaster mitigation for cultural heritage and cultural cities.UNDRR SRSG Kamal Kishore conveyed his gratitude for the strong cooperation between TCS and UNDRR. He highlighted that the experiences and knowledge shared by CJK countries could inspire and enhance the capacity of other nations. He proposed three potential future focus areas for disaster management collaboration, including: 1) Exchange of practices and experiences in Early Warning Systems (EWS), 2) Post-disaster recovery, and 3) School safety from all hazards. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to advance DRR capacity building and implement the Sendai Framework both regionally and globally.▲TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup and Mr. Kamal Kishore, UNDRR Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction▲Group Photo▲Meeting in Progress2024.08.22
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MechanismsParticipation at the Director Generals Meeting for TEMM25On August 22, 2024, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) delegation, headed by Deputy Secretary General YAN Liang, participated in the TEMM25 Director General Meeting in Jeju, Korea. Following the Pre-TEMM Meeting held in June, Director General-level officials from China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea convened to discuss preparations for the upcoming Ministers Meeting. At the meeting, the Director Generals reviewed the detailed arrangements and discussed the expected outcomes for TEMM25.Deputy Secretary General YAN Liang delivered both the opening and closing remarks, emphasizing that environmental cooperation was a major focus at the 9th Trilateral Summit, where ‘sustainable development, including climate change response’, was identified as one of the six key areas for mutually beneficial cooperation projects. This underscores TEMM’s role as a central mechanism in trilateral cooperation. DSG YAN also introduced the 3rd Carbon Neutrality Forum, a thought-provoking event co-hosted by TCS and the UN. He concluded the meeting by expressing gratitude for the three countries’ strong commitments to a better future and their continued support for TCS.Prior to the DG Meeting, a working level meeting was held on August 21, where TCS also participated as an observer. During this meeting, ministry officials actively exchanged ideas and feedback regarding the preparations for TEMM25, reviewed past implementation achievements, and laid out the blueprint for new priority areas for the TJAP 2026-2030.The 25th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting is scheduled for September 28-29, 2024, in Jeju, Korea.▲TEMM25 DG Meeting▲TEMM25 DGM working level meeting2024.08.22
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OthersAmbassador for International Relations of Seoul Metropolitan Government Visited TCSOn August 13, 2024, Ambassador KOO Hong-seok, Seoul Metropolitan City's Ambassador for International Relations, along with officials from the City Diplomacy Division, visited the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) and met with Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup. This meeting followed Seoul City Mayor OH Se-hoon’s recent announcement to renew cooperative relations among the capitals of China, Japan, and Korea, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of BESETO* cooperation next year. In response to the Seoul delegation's request for TCS support in this effort, SG LEE reaffirmed TCS's commitment to fostering collaboration and friendly relations among local governments in the three countries and expressed full support for Seoul’s initiatives to restore BESETO cooperation.*BESETO stands for Beijing (BE), Seoul (SE), and Tokyo (TO), representing a trilateral framework aimed at enhancing collaboration and understanding among these major cities.▲Group Photo2024.08.13
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