TCS

TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup met with Mr. FU Hua, President of Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, China on December 3, 2024. During the meeting, they exchanged views on future-oriented development strategies for trilateral cooperation among China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (CJK).SG LEE commended Xinhua News Agency for its significant contributions in advancing CJK cooperation by widely publicizing its importance and actively participating in relevant events. He expressed hopes for further strengthening the cooperative relationship between the TCS and Xinhua News Agency.SG LEE and President FU agreed to build on the momentum created by the 9th Trilateral Summit, held in May 2024, after a hiatus of four years and five months. They agreed to continue mutual cooperation and joint efforts to advance future-oriented cooperation among the three countries, focusing on youth and cultural exchanges.▲SG LEE met with President Fu Hua of Xinhua News Agency

On November 29, 2024, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Human Resource Development Institute for Health and Welfare hosted the 2nd Korea-Japan-China Population Forum in Seoul, Korea, under the theme of “Exploring Key Cases and Policy Directions for Changing Social Perceptions on Low Birthrates”.The forum showcased significant examples from the three countries that have helped shift societal perceptions and foster cultural changes aimed at reversing the low birthrate trend. Participants also engaged in discussions on directions for policy improvements.In his congratulatory remarks, TCS Secretary-General Lee Hee-sup noted that during the 9th Trilateral Summit held in May, the three leaders acknowledged that demographic shifts driven by low birthrates and aging populations pose significant long-term threats to economic and social welfare. They also agreed to enhance cooperation to address this shared challenge. Building on this commitment, SG Lee expressed his hope that the forum would generate meaningful policy proposals and foster the exchange of best practices to strengthen trilateral collaboration.

The 2024 Trilateral Visionary Group (TVG) was successfully held on November 27-29 in Seoul, Korea. The 2024 TVG was co-organized by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), the Korea Foundation (KF), and the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA). The event brought together 14 TVG members from the ROK, Japan, and China to engage in in-depth discussions on the progress, challenges, and opportunities of trilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and socio-cultural areas. The political session spoke highly of the developments of trilateral cooperation since the last TVG meeting, especially the 9th Trilateral Summit held in May 2024 in Seoul. The members emphasized the significance of trilateral cooperation amidst the increasing regional and global uncertainties. They agreed that the three countries should seek the common ground of cooperation while respecting differences when dealing with political and security issues, maintain regular and close communication to increase mutual trust and bring more concrete benefits to the peoples of the three countries. They look forward to the 10th Trilateral Summit and the 3rd TVG meeting to be successfully held in 2025 in Japan. The economic session focused on the concerted efforts to maintain stable and resilient industrial & supply chains among the three countries in the face of common challenges. The TVG members shared the consensus that the three countries benefit from the international free trade system and share the responsibility to further develop it. They suggested that the three countries should also leverage new opportunities for cooperation in emerging fields to promote their respective development. In the socio-cultural session, TVG members appreciated the efforts of the three governments in further facilitating people-to-people exchanges. They highlighted the significance of broader participation from all sectors of society, especially among young generations, local governments, think tanks, media, and private sectors, in advancing mutual understanding and friendship. The 2024 TVG was a follow-up event of the 9th Trilateral Summit, which welcomed the TVG to bring together eminent figures from the three countries for proposals for further improving the trilateral process. Through 4-5 meetings during the mandate of two years, the TVG is expected to submit a non-binding recommendation report to the three governments.▲Group Photo▲2024 TVG

The 8th Global Symposium on Low Fertility and Ageing: Policy Response to Low Fertility took place on November 26–27, 2024, at the TCS Conference Hall. The symposium was co-organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Statistics Korea (KOSTAT), with support from the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS). Distinguished participants included Dr. Hyoung Il Lee, Commissioner of Statistics Korea; Julia Bunting, Program Division Director of UNFPA; and MP In-Young Lee, President of the Parliamentary League on CPE, National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup also attended the event and delivered congratulatory remarks.In his address, SG LEE highlighted the shared demographic challenges of low fertility and ageing populations faced by China, Japan, and Korea. He stressed the profound impacts of these issues on economic stability and social welfare and emphasized the significance of policy exchange and collaborative efforts in areas such as healthcare, childbirth incentives, and ageing population support. SG LEE referenced recent discussions at the Trilateral Summit, reaffirming TCS's commitment to fostering partnerships with UNFPA, KOSTAT, and other organizations to develop innovative solutions and strengthen regional cooperation to address these critical concerns.This year’s symposium focused specifically on low fertility, addressing key topics such as parental leave policies, youth support, childcare systems, gender norms, and advancements in assisted reproductive technologies. The event convened global experts to share insights and strategies for tackling these issues. TCS has actively supported the symposium since 2023, furthering its mission to promote sustainable development and collaborative solutions in the region.▲SG LEE delivering congratulatory remarks▲Group Photo