TCS

Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) held the Trilateral Business Networking Reception at the Plaza Hotel, Seoul, ROK on January 17th, 2013, in collaboration with Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Seoul Japan Club (SJC) and Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Korea (CCCK). The reception was designed to commemorate the official announcement of the launch of the trilateral FTA negotiations and to facilitate networking among business groups of the three countries. Over 200 businessmen from the three countries participated in the reception.

Ambassador SHIN Bong-kil, Secretary General of the TCS, in his welcoming remarks, introduced the TCS’ efforts in promoting trilateral FTA. Highlighting that the scope of trilateral cooperation has been constantly expanded, he was optimistic that the new leaderships of the three countries would overcome the current difficulties and move forward to open an era of ‘responsible Northeast Asia’.

Mr. Ahn Hong-joon, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Unification Committee of the ROK National Assembly delivered congratulatory remarks, emphasizing the ‘friendship’ among the three countries. He suggested that ‘compromise’ is the key to the early establishment of trilateral FTA and that the three countries should further strengthen cooperation in areas of economy, politics and society.

The representatives of the three business groups affirmed the significance of trilateral FTA as well as overall cooperation among the three countries. Mr. Moon Hi-chung, Vice Chairman of KITA suggested that assuring mutual economic interests and strengthening people-to-people exchanges is essential to the success of negotiations. Mr. Kobayashi Tadashi, Chairman of Seoul Japan Club expressed expectations that the trilateral FTA could create ‘one economic zone’ and that such business networking opportunities could lay a solid foundation for friendship among the three countries. Mr. Huang De, the President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Korea, underscored the pressing need for the Trilateral FTA in maintain economic growth, promoting industrial innovation and advancing civilization both among the three countries and in the region. Calling on academic, business and civilian sectors to combine force, he expressed belief that the trilateral FTA, with a market of 1.5 billion population and 15 trillion US dollar worth of combined GDP, will usher in a brand-new “Age of Asia”. 

The ROK Trade Minister, Mr. Bark Tae-ho delivered the keynote speech, underlining the political and economic significance of the trilateral FTA. He suggested that the conclusion of trilateral FTA would increase intra-regional trade and improve trade structure among the three countries. In his assessment, the recent announcement on the launch of the negotiations together with the presence of the TCS had shown the feasibility of the vision towards economic integration in Northeast Asia. The trilateral FTA would serve as a ‘corner stone’ for East Asian community building efforts.

Alongside the reception, the TCS staged a “Trilateral FTA: Win-Win-Win” exhibition illustrating the solid foundation and great potential of a trilateral FTA. This exhibition is the first of the kind on promoting trilateral FTA and received wide audience by the participants.

More than 200 businessmen from the three countries were gathered.

  Secretary-General SHIN Bong-kil delivering opening remarks

Mr. Ahn Hong-joon, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Unification Committee of the ROK National Assembly, delivering congratulatory remarks

Mr. Moon Hi-chung, Vice Chairman of KITA, delivering remarks

Mr. Huang De, the President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Korea, delivering remarks

Mr. Kobayashi Tadashi, Chairman of Seoul Japan Club, delivering remarks

Mr. Bark Tae-ho, ROK Minister for Trade, delivering keynote speech

Photo Session (from left to right: Ms. MATSUKAWA Rui, Deputy Secretary-General of the TCS; Mr. AHN Chong-won, Senior Vice Chairman of DongA One Group; Mr. MOON Hi-chung, Vice Chairman of KITA; Ambassador SHIN Bong-kil, Secretary-General of the TCS; Mr. BARK Tae-ho, ROK Minister for Trade; Mr. AHN Hong-joon, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Unification Committee of the ROK National Assembly; Mr. Kobayashi Tadashi, Chairman of Seoul Japan Club; Mr. Huang De, the President of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Korea; Ms. Mao Ning, Deputy Secretary-General of the TCS)

TCS Staff Members