Seminar & Forum TCS Held Session at the 20th Jeju Forum
2025-05-28
分享到微信朋友圈
On May 28, the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) hosted a session at the 20th Jeju Forum titled “Balancing Competition and Cooperation: The Role of Non-Governmental Actors in Advancing Trilateral Cooperation.” The session brought together experts and young scholars from China, Japan, and Korea to explore how actors beyond the government—such as academia, civil society, media, and local institutions—can contribute to a more resilient and inclusive trilateral framework.
In his opening remarks, SG LEE emphasized that despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, the deep interdependence among China, Japan, and Korea offers a solid foundation for peace and prosperity, and underscored the importance of engaging youth and non-governmental actors in shaping the future of trilateral cooperation.
The session featured three keynote speakers offering complementary perspectives. Professor KIM Heungkyu emphasizes that, amid growing U.S.-China rivalry and regional instability, China, Japan, and Korea must strengthen their own capacities while pursuing pragmatic cooperation grounded in their economic interdependence and geographic proximity. Professor MENJU Toshihiro highlighted the power of grassroots and digital exchanges in sustaining mutual understanding, sharing Japanese case studies of multicultural community initiatives. Prof. NIU Huayong argues that despite strong economic ties and shared cultural traditions, growing competition, cyber nationalism, and divergent security interests hinder trilateral cooperation, highlighting the vital role of non-governmental actors and calling for increased support from the three governments and TCS for youth exchanges and joint initiatives.
The session concluded with a panel discussion and Q&A, featuring three young scholars from the Young Scholars Forum (YSF) held the previous day. They emphasized the value of informal networks, youth engagement, and bottom-up approaches as vital tools for fostering long-term cooperation and trust-building among the three countries.
▲SG LEE delivering Opening Remarks
▲Session
▲Group Photo
