TCS

On April 19, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), the Waseda University School of Social Science, jointly organized the Trilateral Entrepreneurs Forum (TEF) 2025. The Forum was supported by the Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation), the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), and the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC).The theme of this year’s Forum was “Driving Social Innovation for all: Corporate Social Responsibility in East Asia”, with the focus on social enterprises, integrating sustainable business practices into the broader trilateral cooperation framework in achieving long-term regional prosperity.At the Opening Session, TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji explained that TEF is a flagship program of TCS, bringing together business leaders from Japan, China, and Korea to discuss key regional and global issues. Past topics have included e-commerce, green growth, and innovation in aging societies. TEF's significance has been reaffirmed at recent high-level trilateral meetings.Professor SATO Yoichi, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, emphasized that addressing today’s complex social challenges requires interdisciplinary approaches and diverse expertise. While deep specialization is important, it is equally essential to understand multiple disciplines, engage with varied analytical methods, and develop critical thinking skills. The theme of this year’s TEF is social enterprise, which is instrumental in addressing a wide range of social issues.Mr. HARA Ichiro, Managing Director of KEIDANREN, Mr. KIM Bong-man, Chief of the International Network Office and Vice President of FKI, and Mr. SHI Ming, Chief Representative of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Representative Office in Japan, all emphasized the importance of CJK cooperation and social enterprises in today’s world.In Session 1, distinguished professors from CJK shared case studies and insights from the forefront of research and policymaking on social enterprises. Session 2 brought together social entrepreneurs from various sectors, including sustainable agriculture, global human resources, and digital healthcare, who shared their business models and achievements in building inclusive and impactful ventures.Trilateral Entrepreneurs Forum (TEF) is TCS’s annual event that provides a platform to connect, communicate, and share innovative ideas in business sectors, as well as promoting cross-border business cooperation among the three countries.▲TCS DSG ZUSHI Shuji delivering his remark▲Professor SATO Yoichi, Dean of the School of Social Sciences delivering his remark▲Mr. HARA Ichiro, Managing Director of KEIDANREN delivering his remark▲Mr. KIM Bong-man, Chief of the International Network Office and Vice President of FKI delivering his remark▲Mr. SHI Ming, Chief Representative of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Representative Office in Japan delivering his remark▲Group Photo▲Session 1▲Session 2

On April 16, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) and ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) signed the extended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for three more years of cooperation until 2028, reaffirming their shared commitment based on the overlapping interests in the economic and financial issues across the ASEAN+3 region. TCS and AMRO signed their initial MOU in 2019, which the two extended in 2022. This second extension reflects continued collaboration between the two organizations in joint research, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and other joint activities. By leveraging their respective expertise, TCS and AMRO will continue to strengthen cooperation to enhance institutional capacities and reaffirm their unwavering commitment to advancing economic and financial cooperation across the region and beyond.

On April 14, 2025, the Opening Ceremony of the Year of China- Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange 2025-2026 was held in Tokyo, Japan.The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, and the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS).At the beginning of the ceremony, congratulatory remarks were delivered by Mr. NONAKA Atsushi, Vice Minister of Japan; Mr. GAO Zheng, Vice Minister of China; Mr. YONG Hoseon, First Vice Minister of the Republic of Korea; and Mr. LEE Hees-sup, Secretary-General of the TCS, celebrating the launch of this cultural initiative.Following the speeches, the official logo for the Year of China-Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange 2025–2026 was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Opening Ceremony. As the official emblem of the initiative, the logo will be used in a variety of events and programs held throughout the cultural exchange year across the three countries.In addition, seven winning works from the CJK Short Video Contest 2025 were showcased, offering creative perspectives on regional cultural exchange.To mark the start of these memorable years, a series of cultural performances representing the three countries were presented.From Japan, Shosho KOBORI of the Enshu Sado School demonstrated the Japanese tea ceremony. The Upopoy Performing Arts Team also gave a performance highlighting indigenous Ainu culture.From China, the audience enjoyed performances by guzheng musician Miao Qing, Peking Opera performer Guo Xiao, singer Gong Shuang, and dancer Gan Zige.From the Republic of Korea, the National Gugak Center concluded the ceremony with a vibrant performance of the traditional Mask Dance and Janggu Dance.The Year of Cultural Exchange 2025–2026 was designated at the 9th Trilateral Summit among China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, held in May 2024.This initiative aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship among the peoples of the three countries through cultural exchange activities across a wide range of fields, including culture and the arts. A variety of cultural events will take place throughout 2025 and 2026 under this initiative.▲Group Photo with the Official Logo▲Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, delivering his remark▲Cultural Performances

On April 11, 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) hosted the Trilateral Innovation Dialogue and ICT Industry Matchmaking Event in Suzhou, China, jointly with the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). The Dialogue was held in conjunction with the 7th China-Japan-Korea ICT Minister’s Meeting held for the first time in seven years since 2018. Under the theme of “Harnessing ICT Innovation Cooperation for an Inclusive, Sustainable, and Greener Future”, the Dialogue consisted of two sessions: the Expert Session aligned with the topic of the Dialogue, and the Business Session on the two topics of I. Opportunities and Challenges of Emerging Digital Technologies and II. Inclusiveness, Sustainability and Green Development. Nine speakers from research institutes, academia, and industries of the three countries spoke as presenters. During his opening remarks, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup mentioned that today’s world is rapidly advancing towards a historic civilizational shift triggered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). As competition in cutting-edge industries accelerates, the economy and security are becoming increasingly intertwined, narrowing the space for international cooperation in science, technology, and ICT. Nevertheless, we must distinguish between areas in which we pursue technological superiority through competition, and areas in which we cooperate on a common ground to pursue sustainable development and shared growth, in responding to shared global crises such as climate change, disasters, disease, and poverty. SG LEE advocated for promoting people-to-people exchange in ICT, while fostering cooperation in next-generation technologies and standards. Mr. ZHANG Yunming, Vice Minister of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China, stated that China, Japan and Korea, as key players in the global ICT industry, are not only sources of technological innovation but also critical hubs for industrial chain connectivity. He emphasized that deepening technological interconnectivity, resource sharing, and market integration among the three countries is both a necessary response to industrial transformation and a driver of significant business opportunities. Stressing that dialogue and cooperation are the right paths for future development, he proposed three key directions for trilateral ICT cooperation: i) jointly building a hub for cutting-edge technological innovation, ii) jointly promoting the integration of the digital industry, and iii) jointly enhancing the resilience of industrial and supply chains. Mr. WU Qingwen, Mayor of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, welcomed the hosting of the Trilateral Innovation Dialogue by TCS in Suzhou — a city where history, art, and modern innovation converge. He noted that modern Suzhou continues to uphold its reputation as one of the most technologically advanced regions in the country, developed with its increasing industrial partnerships with Japan and Korea. He reaffirmed Suzhou’s commitment to advancing trilateral cooperation in ICT and related industries by actively engaging with business communities to explore opportunities for future collaboration. The Dialogue is part of TCS’ ongoing efforts to implement the agreements of the 9th Trilateral Summit held last May, to serve as a valuable platform for private-sector exchange and supporting the 7th China-Japan-Korea ICT Ministers Meeting held earlier the same day. The inclusion of the Dialogue in the Joint Minutes of the ministerial meeting highlights TCS’ substantive role in promoting dialogue and exchange among business sectors in the ICT field. TCS will continue to engage with stakeholders across the public and private sectors to strengthen trilateral ICT cooperation.▲Meeting in progress▲SG LEE Hee-sup delivering opening remarks▲Mr. ZHANG Yunming, Vice Minister, MIIT of China, delivering opening remarks▲Mr. WU Qingwen, Mayor of Suzhou, delivering opening remarks▲Expert Session: ICT Innovation Cooperation for an Inclusive, Sustainable, and Green Future▲Business Session I: Opportunities and Challenges of Emerging Digital Technologies▲Business Session II: Inclusiveness, Sustainability and Green Development