TCS

On September 17-20, 2025, the 9th Conference of East Asia Research Association for Agricultural Heritage Systems (ERAHS) was held in Jeju, Korea, jointly organized by the East Asia Research Association for Agricultural Heritage Systems (ERAHS), Jeju Special Self-governing Province, and the Korea Rural Heritage Association (KRHA). TCS is invited to attend the joint meeting of Korea-China-Japan central governments and ERAHS, which was convened for the first time as part of the Conference.During the meeting, the TCS delegation presented the latest developments in trilateral cooperation, highlighting TCS’s mandates and activities. The Trilateral Young Rural Leaders Exchange Program (TREP) was presented as a key example of TCS’s efforts to promote trilateral agricultural cooperation. The presentation also introduced TCS’s broader endeavors across diverse economic sectors, including trade, environment, transport and logistics, water resources as well as new initiatives in STEM and IPR. The Conference of ERAHS is an annual academic and policy platform established in 2014 to advance the conservation and sustainable development of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in East Asia. Held under the theme of “Sustainable Conservation of IAHS and Restoration of Community,” this year’s conference featured six sessions and introduced a new intergovernmental mechanism to strengthen regional policy cooperation in line with global initiatives, building on the agreement reached at the 4th Trilateral Agricultural Ministers’ Meeting in August 2025.▲9th Conference of ERAHS in progress▲TCS Assistant Director of Economic Affairs delivering a presentation at the working-level meeting

On 19 September 2025, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) delegation led by Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the 2025 International Forum on Regional Cooperation and Development of China, Japan, and the ROK in Beijing, China. Co-organized by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and China Daily, the Forum brought together more than 200 academic representatives from the three countries. In his remarks at the opening ceremony, SG LEE emphasized the critical need for the three countries to strengthen supply chain resilience and advance free trade agreements. Stressing that cooperation is more vital than ever amidst global uncertainties, he outlined a shared vision to lead in AI, clean energy, and bio-technology, positioning the region as a powerful alternative in global innovation. The Forum serves as a key platform to turn common challenges into opportunities for shared prosperity. During the official meeting with Vice President Zhao Gang and Professor NIU Huayong of BFSU, both sides expressed strong willingness to enhance cooperation in areas such as economic trade and youth exchanges.▲SG LEE delivering his remark▲Official meeting with BFSU

On September 16, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) participated in the High-Level International Seminar on Tracking and Monitoring SDG 6 Progress of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Member Countries, held in Zhengzhou, China. The seminar was hosted by International Economic and Technical Cooperation and Exchange Center (INTCE), Ministry of Water Resources of China, collaborated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).The event gathered numerous participants, including representatives from water-related ministries of various ACD member countries, officials from UN Water and FAO, and experts and researchers from various institutions. The opening ceremony featured addresses from several delegations, including Director General of INTCE, representatives from China's MWR, the Director of the Land and Water Resources Division of FAO, Representative in China of World Health Organization, Secretary-General of ACD Secretariat, and Global Monitoring Officer of UN Water.In the afternoon workshop, themed "Deepening International Cooperation and Building Water and Food Security Together," Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup delivered a keynote address. He emphasized the urgent need to deliver on the SDGs amid crises such as geopolitical tensions and climate change. He also highlighted that water cooperation is a key pillar of trilateral collaboration and underscored the importance of strengthening joint efforts to address water-related issues like scarcity and flooding.The seminar served as a crucial platform for sharing best practices and innovative solutions to achieve water-food security in the region. TCS reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to these common goals as a responsible stakeholder within both the ACD and the UN organization.▲SG LEE Hee-sup delivering remarks▲Meeting in progress▲Group Photo

On September 16, 2025, a delegation of Chinese journalists visited the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) as part of the 2025 Korea-China Journalist Exchange Program. Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the program marks a meaningful resumption of exchanges, five years after the last visit by eight Chinese journalists in 2019. Last year, a delegation of ten Korean journalists also visited China as part of the exchange program. Deputy Secretary-General Yan Liang of TCS warmly welcomed the delegation and gave an overview of the progress of trilateral cooperation among China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as well as the TCS’s main functions and projects. He also highlighted upcoming TCS-led programs scheduled to take place in China next year, which attracted strong interest from the journalists. DSG Yan expressed appreciation for the journalists’ contributions to fostering media cooperation and emphasized TCS’s commitment to further deepening and expanding journalist exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen trilateral relations.▲Group photo▲Visit by Chinese Journalists