TCS

On May 22, 2023, Secretary-General OU Boqian of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) delivered an online lecture at The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP). SG OU introduced the history and overview of Trilateral Cooperation and the major programs that the TCS organizes. The presentation was followed by a Q and A session which focused on three themes; 1) Trilateral Cooperation amidst geopolitical difficulties 2) Common Challenges among CJK, and 3) Cooperation beyond the scope of CJK. Guided by the moderation of Professor NISHIZAWA Toshiro, the students actively raised questions expanding the themes above into fields of their interest such as human security, economic cooperation, gender equality, declining mutual perception, aging society, disaster reduction, cooperation with ASEAN countries, and so on. SG OU especially emphasized the importance of face-to-face exchanges. The overload of information alongside the 2-3 year pandemic has provided less opportunities for direct communication among the people, and led to the exposure of extreme opinions while people live a double-faced life in the cyber world and the real world. “Cooperation” is the key to maintain lasting peace in the region regardless of the rapidly transforming geopolitical landscapes and challenges each country faces. SG OU encouraged the students of GraSPP by saying “Where there is a strong youth, there is a strong Northeast Asia”. ▲SG OU Boqian delivering the lecture▲Students of GraSPP participating in the lecture

On May 17-19, 2023, TCS delegation participated in the 1st Korean Culture Cities of East Asia (CCEA) Networking Event in Gwangju, ROK. The event was hosted by Asia Culture City Forum(ACCF) Gwangju City and representatives from previous CCEA cities, such as Cheongju, Jeonju and Jeju participated. Gwangju chosen to be the first CCEA city when the project was launched in 2014 by the Cultural Ministries of the three countries. In the Networking Seminar, Gwangju city introduced their 10-year experience of exchanges with Chinese and Japanese cities. The participants actively shared challenges, needs and future prospects of trilateral local government cooperation in the culture and arts field. TCS also introduced its activities in partnership with local governments, including the CCEA Media and Internet Celebrity Tour held in April 2023. The participants welcomed TCS contributions and hoped that network among the CCEA cities could be strengthened further through various means as the CCEA celebrates its 10th anniversary. ▲Group photo of delegations from the CCEA cities ▲Networking seminar

On May 16, 2023, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Deputy Secretary-General BEK Bumhym attended the 79th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) which was held on May 15-19, 2023 at the United Nation Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. This year, the Session was held under the theme of ‘Accelerating climate action in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development’. TCS was invited as one of representatives of subregional organizations to speak about TCS’ perspectives on accelerating climate action and proposing key areas for possible cooperation among the subregional organizations in collaboration with ESCAP. At the dialogue, DSG BEK delivered an intervention, in which he illustrated the leadership of China, Japan, and Republic of Korea (ROK) in combatting climate crisis, especially in the area of technology innovation and policy development. Additionally, TCS and ESCAP co-organized a side event at the 79th Commission Session, titled ‘Connecting Local, National and Regional Strategies to Achieve Carbon Neutrality in Asia and the Pacific’. The side event took the form of a roundtable discussion among experts from CJK and Asia-Pacific to showcase climate actions initiated by local governments and to discuss how to accelerate climate actions at the local level in Asia and the Pacific. Along with Ms. Hyoeun Kim, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change of ROK, and Mr. Ganbold Basaanjav Head of ESCAP Subregional Office for East and Northeast Asia, DSG BEK delivered opening remarks where he illustrated the importance of exchanging best practices of CJK and sharing the knowledge to Asia and the Pacific. A keynote speech by Honorable Naseer Ahamed, Minister of Environment of Sri Lanka was also made at the event. Furthermore, on May 17, DSG BEK met with ESCAP Executive Secretary Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana to discuss further cooperation opportunities between TCS and ESCAP on carbon neutrality, statistics platforms, and digital connectivity in East Asia. Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana welcomed the TCS delegation and the continued cooperation. She also stressed that CJK have a central role in climate action and called for more progressive measures from the three countries. DSG BEK expressed his appreciation to ESCAP for their long support in promoting trilateral cooperation, namely through the Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of CJK, and the upcoming International Forum on Trilateral Cooperation, in which ESCAP will collaborate in convening one of the sessions. The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the future. ▲Deputy Secretary-General BEK Bumhym attending 79th Commission Session▲Meeting with Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP▲Side Event of the 79th Commission Session co-organized by TCS, ROK government, and ESCAP

On May 13, 2023, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Secretary-General OU Boqian attended the Asia Liquor Festival hosted by the Asia Leaders Club (ALC) and the East Asia Culture Center (EACC). Counsellor SHEN Xiaogang of the Chinese Embassy in Korea and Minister CHUZO Kazuo of the Japan Public Information and Cultural Center in Korea also attend the event, together with 200 participants including representatives from Volunteer Korea, media, artists and celebrities in Korea. The event was held with the purpose of experiencing a sense of common East Asian culture by tasting and comparing the liquor in the three countries; Chinese “Baijiu”, Japanese “Sake”, and Korean “Soju”. SG OU Boqian expressed her gratitude toward President ROH of EACC for joining the “Culture City of East Asia” Media and Internet Celebrities Tour held by the TCS in late April. She highlighted that the “liquor” was also one of the many shared cultures the participants have enjoyed during the tour, and again congratulated the hosting of the Asia Liquor Festival with a Chinese saying —“酒逢知己千杯少”— meaning, “Drinking a thousand cups is not too much with a close friend”. The opening ceremony was followed by quizzes related to the three countries, music performances, and raffles. The walls were decorated with art crafts by artists of the three countries along with TCS’s photo exhibition for the “Culture City of East Asia” Media and Internet Celebrities Tour. ▲Welcoming Toast at the Opening Ceremony▲SG OU examining the Liquor from CJK▲TCS Photo Exhibition for the “Culture City of East Asia” Media and Internet Celebrities Tour