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 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

On March 22, 2025, the 11th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting was presided by H.E. IWAYA Takeshi, Foreign Minister of Japan, and participated by H.E. WANG Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of China, and H.E.CHO Tae-yul, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup, as well as Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji and Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang also participated in the meeting. The Foreign Ministers assessed the progress and future directions of the trilateral cooperation. Three Ministers concurred on promoting a future-oriented cooperation for the next Trilateral Summit based on the outcomes of the last Summit.Regarding the TCS, the Foreign Ministers commended the achievements and contributions of the TCS, and agreed to extend the term of the secretariat’s Consultative Board, looking forward to the secretariat playing a greater role in promoting trilateral cooperation. In his remarks, SG LEE Hee-sup expressed gratitude to the three Ministers for their unwavering support of trilateral cooperation and the TCS. SG LEE provided an overview of the efforts the TCS has made to advance trilateral cooperation, emphasizing initiatives such as Trilateral +X Cooperation, the "Year of Cultural Exchange 2025-2026," and the importance of strengthening the TCS's capacity building to foster deeper, more comprehensive collaboration.(Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)(Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)