TCS

TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Seoul, ROK on March 30, 2025. Held for the first time in six years since December 2019, the Meeting discussed follow-up measures for the 9th Trilateral Summit in May 2024. The meeting was chaired by Mr. AHN Dukgeun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the ROK, and attended by Mr. MUTO Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, and Mr. WANG Wentao, Minister of Commerce (MOFCOM) of China. The three economic Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating for the prosperity and stability of both the regional and global economies, agreeing to continuously expand economic and trade cooperation. In his remarks, SG LEE emphasized the continuous momentum of trilateral cooperation revitalized by the Trilateral Summit last May, which paved the way for resuming exchanges and cooperation across both public and private sectors, breaking away from long-standing stagnation. He noted the significance of the Trilateral Economic Report (TER) operating as an official cooperative project under the ministerial process since February 2025. He spoke positively of China’s visa-free policy for Korea and Japan, which increased the number of mutual visitors by 60% in the past three months, and welcomed Korea’s plan to implement visa-free measures for Chinese group tourists for the Gyeongju APEC in late October, expecting these changes to greatly contribute to economic and tourism exchanges and business opportunities in the near future among the three countries. During the meeting, the three countries agreed to closely cooperate on multilateral trade issues, including WTO reform, new membership in RCEP, and a comprehensive, high-level Trilateral FTA. They congratulated each other on the successful 9th Asian Winter Asian Games in Harbin and agreed to collaborate on upcoming international events, including the 2025 Osaka-Kansai EXPO, the 2025 Korea APEC, and the 2026 China APEC. Additionally, they agreed to strengthen cooperation in industrial and energy sectors to create a predictable business environment, stabilize supply chains, enhance communication regarding export controls, and achieve green and digital economies, while also cooperating closely at the local level, including the 23rd Yellow Sea Rim Economic and Technological Conference scheduled for November 2025 in Daejeon, ROK. In the Joint Media Statement of the Ministers’ Meeting, the Ministers acknowledged TCS’ contribution to the trilateral economic mechanism and cooperation through the TER and Trilateral Entrepreneurs Forum (TEF). The three ministers reiterated their support for the TER as valuable resource for policy development and economic cooperation, agreed to facilate economic exchange, cooperation and information sharing based on the report, and encouraged the development of future publications. The Ministers also commended the outcome of the TEF, recognizing the contribution of digital transformation to regional economic recovery and integation, and pledging to advance digital cooperation through multilateral frameworks. The 14th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Japan.▲ Group photo ▲ Meeting in progress▲SG LEE Hee-sup delivering opening remark

On March 25-28, 2025, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference was held in Boao, Hainan Province, China, under the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future." More than 1,500 representatives from over 60 countries and regions, including officials, business leaders, scholars and media were present.Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup was invited to attend the BFA Annual Conference and participated in two in-depth discussions: the Roundtable on “Towards the Future of Regional Integration: Openness & Connectivity” and the China-ROK Business Dialogue.At the Roundtable, SG LEE emphasized the critical need for East Asian cooperation in the face of global challenges. He acknowledged the region's steady growth and increasing economic integration, driven by various mechanisms such as ASEAN+3, EAS, the Trilateral Summit, APEC, RCEP, and CPTPP. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that these mechanisms complement one another and generate synergies to strengthen regional stability and economic growth. He also reaffirmed TCS’s commitment to facilitating regional cooperation and promoting stability and prosperity in the region. During the China-ROK Business Dialogue, with Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. BAN Ki-moon, delivering the opening speech, SG LEE stressed the significance of enhancing China-ROK cooperation within the broader framework of trilateral collaboration. He called for a deepening of economic interdependence between the two countries to foster sustainable regional growth in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Through continued collaboration and strategic cooperation between China and the ROK, he highlighted that East Asia's shared destiny can ensure a more stable and prosperous future.On the sidelines of the BFA Annual Conference, SG LEE met with Mr. Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, Under Secretary General of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to explore further cooperation between the two organizations.▲Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup participated in the Roundtable on “Towards the Future of Regional Integration: Openness & Connectivity”▲Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup participated in the China-ROK Business Dialogue▲Group Photo of China-ROK Dialogue▲Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup met with Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, Under Secretary General of IFRC, Olga Dzhumaeva, Head of the East Asia Delegation of IFRC

On 27 March 2025, the Expert Dialogue on Trilateral Cooperation was co-hosted by the National Assembly Bipartisan Foreign Affairs Forum of the ROK and the Institute for Global Strategic and Cooperation (IGSC) at the Sarangjae, National Assembly of the ROK. Mr. WI Sung-lac, Representative Member of National Assembly Bipartisan Foreign Affairs Forum, Professor HWANG Jaeho, Director of IGSC, H.E. MIZUSHIMA Koichi, Japanese Ambassador to the ROK, H.E DAI Bing, Chinese Ambassador to the ROK and Mr. ZUSHI Shuji, Deputy Secretary-General of TCS attended the dialogue and delivered remarks at the opening session. Around 40 participants, including members of the Korean National Assembly, diplomats, experts, and journalists from the three countries, participated in the dialogue.TCS DSG ZUSHI Shuji briefly introduced the outcomes of the 11th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Tokyo and TCS’ efforts in promoting trilateral people-to-people exchange to follow up on the outcomes of the 9th Trilateral Summit held last May. He pointed out that the three countries are in the same boat sailing to a shared future; cooperation is the only way to forge ahead through the waves. He called for the three countries to work together and unlock the potential of trilateral partnership so that more people of the region and beyond will benefit from trilateral cooperation.▲TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji addresses the Dialogue▲Group Photo

Message of Condolence Regarding the Wildfires in the Republic of Korea TCS extends its heartfelt sympathies to the victims, as well as to their families and friends who have lost loved ones due to the wildfires throughout the country, including in Gyeongsang Province. TCS also sincerely wishes for the swift recovery of the injured and hopes that those displaced by the disaster will be able to return to their homes as soon as possible. Furthermore, TCS hopes for the safety of all those who are courageously fighting the wildfires. Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat The 7th Consultative Board of the TCS 27 March 2025