TCS

On May 30, 2025, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) celebrated its annual TCS Day at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. H.E. JUNG Kihong, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy of ROK MOFA, H.E. MIZUSHIMA Koichi, Japanese Ambassador to the ROK, and H.E. DAI Bing, Chinese Ambassador to the ROK, attended the event and delivered congratulatory remarks at the opening session. About 3,000 visitors joined the festivities, reflecting growing public interest in trilateral cooperation. In his opening remarks, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup highlighted that TCS Day serves as a meaningful platform to engage the public in the values of trilateral cooperation and to reaffirm a shared vision for the future, stating, “Our friendship will light the way toward a brighter future together.” The Year of Cultural Exchange 2025–2026, designated at the 9th Trilateral Summit among China, Japan, and the ROK, was spotlighted during the event. To mark this occasion, TCS Day featured vibrant cultural performances, including a calligraphy demonstration of the CJK Spirit Word of the Year 未来 (Future), as well as a collaborative music performance by artists from the three countries, symbolizing shared cultures. In addition, TCS Day included an interactive exhibition with three youth-led project creator booths curated by teams from the three countries. The booths highlighted traditional culture and trilateral connections through hands-on activities such as decorative knot keyring crafting, name stamp workshop, and poetic crafts with tea, allowing visitors to experience cross-cultural exchange firsthand. In partnership with Anseong City, the Japan National Tourism Organization, and the China National Tourist Office in Seoul, TCS Day 2025 also promoted tourism within the three countries. The tourism booths provided travel information, cultural displays, and interactive experiences to encourage mutual visits and people-to-people ties. The Memorandum on the Establishment of the TCS was signed by the governments of China, Japan, and the ROK on May 30, 2010, in Jeju. Since then, May 30 has been commemorated each year as TCS Day — a celebration of cooperation and friendship among the three countries.▲Group Photo▲TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivering opening remarks▲JUNG Kihong, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy of ROK MOFA delivering congratulatory remarks▲MIZUSHIMA Koichi, Japanese Ambassador to the ROK delivering congratulatory remarks▲DAI Bing, Chinese Ambassador to the ROK delivering congratulatory remarks▲Calligraphy Performance with Ambassadors▲Booth Cultural Experience▲Calligraphy 'Future (미래, 未来)' Performance▲Performance by Chinese artist▲Performance by Japanese artists▲Performance by Korean artists

Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the 2025 RCEP Media and Think Tank For um in Haikou On May 25, the 2025 RCEP Regional Development Media and Think Tank Forum was held in Haikou, China, under the theme “ Jointly Building a High-Level and Largest Free Trade Area.” The forum was co-hosted by the China (Hainan) Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD), China Daily, and the China Oceanic Development Foundation. Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) LEE Hee-sup, was invited to attend and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony.In his speech, SG LEE emphasized the urgent need for deeper regional cooperation amid rising global fragmentation and protectionism, noting that trilateral cooperation is like an orchestra, where each stakeholder plays a vital role. He reaffirmed RCEP’s role as a stabilizing force and called for its upgrade through expanded membership, greater openness, and exploring convergence with frameworks like CPTPP. Citing progress at the 9th Trilateral Summit and the revived Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting, he expressed hope for advancing CJK FTA negotiations. He also highlighted the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Korea and China as key opportunities.During the interview with Sansha Satellite TV, SG LEE shared his perspectives on RCEP implementation, regional economic integration, and the strategic role of Hainan in advancing free trade cooperation across East Asia.The forum also featured insights from Mr. CHI Fulin, President of the CIRD, who stressed the strategic role of Hainan in connecting China with ASEAN markets. Other speakers, including Mr. WU Shicun of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Mr. Samir Hamrouni of the World Free Zones Organization, emphasized the importance of policy execution, institutional innovation, and international best practices to strengthen Hainan’s position within RCEP.Since its inception in 2021, the RCEP Media and Think Tank Forum has become a key platform for dialogue and cooperation across the region, helping to shape policy consensus and promote high-level regional integration. This year’s forum brought together nearly 400 participants from governments, academia, industry, think tanks, and media across RCEP member states. ▲SG LEE delivering remarks▲Group Photo▲SG LEE Sharing moment with Participant

On May 23, 2025, the 4th Trilateral Youth Speech Contest (TYSC) was successfully held at Dongseo University’s Centum Campus in Busan, Korea. Co-hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) and Dongseo University, the event welcomed 12 outstanding youth representatives from China, Japan and Korea, all of whom advanced through a competitive preliminary round. Under the theme “Bridging Today, Empowering Tomorrow: Stories of CJK Exchange,” participants delivered compelling speeches that reflected their unique perspectives, experiences, and hopes for trilateral cooperation.The opening ceremony was attended by TCS Secretary-General LEE Heesup, Dongseo University President Jang Je-guk, NAGAFUCHI Kenji, Deputy Consul-General of Japan in Busan, and YU Lifei, Deputy Consul-General of China in Busan, along with an audience of over 200 people.In his opening remarks, SG LEE noted that TYSC has grown into a platform for cultural exchange and meaningful dialogue, expressing hope that youth voices will sow the seeds of future trilateral cooperation. President JANG highlighted the university’s role in regional exchange through programs like CAMPUS Asia and hoped the contest would inspire a shared vision for the future. Deputy Consul-General NAGAFUCHI emphasized that learning each other’s languages fosters deeper understanding and hoped the event would enrich the 2025-26 Year of Cultural Exchange among the three countries. Deputy Consul-General YU noted that youth are the driving force of the future and expressed hope the contest would help build a strong foundation for continued trilateral collaboration.The contest featured two categories – Specialist and Challenger – where participants delivered heartfelt speeches reflecting their experiences with trilateral exchanges and offering thought-provoking insights on a wide range of topics, earning warm applause from the audience. Award presentations were conducted by representatives from the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Consulates of Japan and China in Busan, and the TCS. Trophies and certificates were awarded to the top three winners in each category. Held as part of the 2025–2026 CJK Year of Cultural Exchange, this year’s contest was aligned with the CJK Spirit Word of the Year 2025: “Future (未来)”. TCS remains committed to fostering youth engagement and promoting deeper mutual understanding among the three nations through continued exchange and dialogue.■ List of Awardees [Specialist Category] 1st Prize: CHOI Myoungjun 최명준 2nd Prize: CHO Kanghyun 조강현 3rd Prize: XU Jingxiang 许 静香 [Challenger Category] 1st Prize: MOROMIZATO Anna 諸見里 安奈 2nd Prize: KIM Jaemin 김재민 3rd Prize: JIN Xiaoyan 金 晓燕▲The 4th Trilateral Youth Speech Contest Held in Busan, Korea▲SG’s Opening Remarks▲VIPs and Judges▲Speech Contest▲Q&As

On May 20, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) participated in the China-Japan-ROK Water Youth Exchange Seminar held in Chengdu, China. The Seminar was hosted by International Economic and Technical Cooperation and Exchange Center (INTCE), Ministry of Water Resources of China. It was attended by representatives from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea, and young professionals from the three countries. TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended and delivered remarks.The Seminar was convened under the theme of “Water Security Under Multiple Challenges,” consisting of three technical sessions and one youth discussion session. In his remarks during the opening session, SG LEE noted the increasing frequency and severity of water-related disasters, underscoring the importance of youth-led collaboration in achieving SDG 6. He emphasized the outcomes of the recent Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Water Resources and TCS’s commitment to supporting practical cooperation across policy, research, and future leadership development.Notable remarks were also delivered by Mr. HAO Zhao, Director General of INTCE, Mr. MARUYAMA Kazuki, Division Director of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Mr. LEE Seunghwan, Director General of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea.Session I focused on “Flood Control and Disaster Mitigation,” exploring climate impacts on water systems, smart flood forecasting technologies, and policy responses across the region. Session II addressed “Efficient Utilization of Water Resources,” highlighting innovations such as water diversion infrastructure, groundwater monitoring, and UNESCO’s efforts to empower youth in the water sector.Session III focused on “River and Lake Ecological Protection,” featuring national case studies on ecological governance, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable waterway management.On May 21, youth delegates engaged in group discussions on water challenges and cooperation, which culminated in the endorsement of the “Chengdu Initiative by China-Japan-ROK Water Youth.” This initiative outlined collective goals in strengthening regional water governance through innovation, knowledge exchange, and inclusive participation.▲SG LEE Hee-sup delivering remarks▲Mr. HAO Zhao, Director General, INTCE, Ministry of Water Resources, China delivering remarks▲MARUYAMA Kazuki, Division Director, MLIT, Japan delivering remarks▲LEE Seunghwan, Director General, Ministry of Environment, ROK delivering remarks▲Meeting in progress▲Group Photo