TCS

The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) successfully hosted the CAMPUS Asia Alumni Workshop 2025 in Beijing, China, in collaboration with the Chinese Secretariat of CAMPUS Asia and with support from Peking University. The workshop brought together 30 alumni and current students from CAMPUS Asia consortia across China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and ASEAN countries, offering a dynamic platform for exchange, learning, and collaboration. The event opened with remarks by TCS Secretary-General Lee Hee-sup, who introduced this year’s theme: “Empowering a Sustainable Alumni Network for CAMPUS Asia.” He underscored the importance of building enduring friendships and advancing regional cooperation, highlighting the expanded participation of ASEAN students as a step toward deeper regional engagement. He also reaffirmed the shared goal of the three governments to increase CAMPUS Asia participants to 30,000 by 2030. A special lecture followed, delivered by Professor Hara Masahiko of the Institute of Science Tokyo and Professor Sheen Seong-ho of Seoul National University. The speakers reflected on the program’s evolution and its growing relevance amid changing geopolitical dynamics. After the lecture, panel discussion followed, moderated by Professor Dong Zhaohua of Peking University, featuring alumni representatives from China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN. The panel addressed “The Impact of Digital Technology on Youth’s Cross-Cultural Communication,” offering insights into how technology both facilitates and complicates intercultural engagement. In the afternoon workshop session, participants proposed innovative ideas to enhance the sustainability of the CAMPUS Asia program and its alumni network. Suggestions included establishing a mentorship program, publishing an annual alumni brochure, and developing Metaverse CAMPUS Asia—a virtual campus platform to foster interactive and accessible alumni engagement. The session showcased the creativity and commitment of alumni to building a vibrant and future-oriented community. Beyond the main sessions, participants took part in a welcome reception featuring career talks, as well as site and cultural visits around Beijing, further enriching their experience and strengthening interpersonal ties. CAMPUS Asia (Collective Action for Mobility Program of University Students in Asia) is a cross-border higher education exchange initiative among China, Japan, and the ROK. It promotes joint and double degree programs, as well as short-term exchanges at both undergraduate and graduate levels, with the aim of building academic networks and fostering mutual understanding among students in the region. Recognized as a core initiative in trilateral education cooperation, CAMPUS Asia was endorsed in the joint statements of the 1st and 2nd Trilateral Education Ministers’ Meetings. Now in its fifth edition, the CAMPUS Asia Alumni Workshop is a TCS-led initiative designed to provide alumni and students with continued opportunities for dialogue, learning, and collaboration.▲SG LEE delivering opening remarks▲Group Photo of Participants▲Panel Discussion▲Workshop Session

On 5 June 2025, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup attended the 2025 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum. The event brought together representatives from governments and business sectors across the RCEP members to promote regional collaboration and common development.SG LEE delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. He emphasized the essential role of local governments in maximizing the benefits of RCEP and called for deeper liberalization, upgraded commitments, and expanded membership. SG LEE also stressed the importance of joint efforts to tackle global trade challenges and enhance local development, while expressing gratitude to the city of Huangshan and the organizers for their warm hospitality.On the eve of the forum, SG LEE met with Mr. WANG Qingxian, Governor of Anhui Province, and delivered speech as the head of the foreign delegation. He conveyed his gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed TCS’s commitment to strengthening exchanges among local governments, fostering practical cooperation, and contributing to regional peace and prosperity.The 2025 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum is jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the People’s Government of Anhui Province, the forum took place from June 4 to 6 in Huangshan. It aimed to promote the high-quality implementation of RCEP, facilitate exchanges between local governments of RCEP members, explore business opportunities, and advance friendly relations.▲SG LEE delivering remarks▲SG LEE met with Mr. WANG Qingxian, Governor of Anhui Province

On June 2nd, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) officially launched the 3rd Trilateral Young Rural Leaders’ Exchange Program (TREP) in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Themed “Green Agriculture: Sustainable Farming Practices and Environmental Stewardship”, the program is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Chiba Prefectural Government .In his opening remarks, TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji expressed his gratitude to the agricultural ministries of Japan, China, and the ROK, as well as to the Chiba Prefectural Government for their strong support. He introduced the history of TREP and encouraged participants to learn not only from Japan’s best practices, but also from one another through meaningful exchange.Ms. TAKAHASHI Teruko, Executive Director of the Chiba Prefectural Government, highlighted that Chiba is one of Japan’s leading regions in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, known for its mild climate and rich agricultural output. Chiba Prefecture is advancing agriculture through export promotion via the Narita Wholesale Market and the adoption of smart technologies like robotics. She expressed her hope that the participants’ time in Chiba would be both fruitful and inspiring, and that the experiences and connections made during the program would contribute meaningfully to their future endeavors.Following the opening remarks, representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture of Japan, China, and the ROK, as well as from Chiba Prefecture, presented their agricultural policies and initiatives, underscoring the importance of sustainability and innovation. The representative from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Partnership and Liaison Office in Japan also congratulated the hosting of the 3rd TREP, highlighting FAO’s mission to achieve global food security. She emphasized the value of sustainable agriculture aligned with the SDGs and commended TREP for promoting cross-border collaboration.The 3rd TREP brings together young rural leaders from China, Japan, and Korea from June 2 to 5, 2025. Participants will engage in a variety of activities, including visits to green agriculture facilities, interactive lectures, policy discussions, and site visits to key rural areas in Chiba Prefecture. The program aims to deepen cross-border understanding and foster the next generation of agricultural leaders committed to environmental stewardship.▲Opening Remarks from DSG Zushi▲Congratulatory Remarks from Ms. TAKAHASHI▲Presentation from CJK Agriculture Ministry▲Group Photo

The TCS released the Trilateral Economic Report (TER) in May 2025. The TER is a flagship publication of the TCS to outline the economic landscape and policy implications of China, Japan, and the ROK. “This year’s TER marks a significant milestone in its development as the 10th edition”, noted TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup. He emphasized that the 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting, held for the first time since 2019, formally recognized the TER as a valuable asset for policy development and economic cooperation. He stated that this edition reflects our collective effort to accelerate the revitalization of trilateral economic cooperation, building on momentum generated from the 9th Trilateral Summit in May 2024. TCS, as a key institutional partner in this initiative, remains committed to ensuring continued knowledge-sharing and policy dialogue among the three governments by engaging leading regional experts. This year’s report introduces a new chapter on global and regional economic development, produced in close collaboration with the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). The then-AMRO Director, LI Kouqing, noted that current global environment — characterized by rising geopolitical tensions and escalating trade protectionism — has brought heightened uncertainty to the world economy. Building strong and enduring partnerships among regional institutions is of particular importance in this context. He affirmed that the 2025 TER is a clear testament to deepening collaboration between TCS and AMRO and the shared commitment of the two institutions to fostering sustainable growth and stability in the region. The report outlines the economic profiles of China, Japan and the ROK, as well as development and outlook of the regional economy over the past year, assessing key risks, strengths, and policy priorities within global, regional, and trilateral contexts. Additionally, the report also provides an in-depth and thematic analysis of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and supply chain connectivity in advanced industries (semiconductors), which were conducted by three experts individually recommended by the respective economic ministries of the three countries. As one of TCS’s long-lasting research initiatives and now an official follow-up initiative under the ministerial process, the TER will continue to serve as a shared source of information and knowledge for the three governments and all relevant stakeholders, facilitating mutual understanding and informed policy development on regional cooperation. The report is published in English and available for download on the TCS official website.