TCS

On September 4, the 10th Consultative Meeting on Consumer Policy among China, Japan and Korea took place in Seoul, Korea, hosted by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) and Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) with the participation of representatives from the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) of China, China Consumers Association Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA), Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan, National Consumer Affairs Center (NCAC) of Japan. TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji attended the meeting and delivered a speech. During his speech, DSG ZUSHI emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation, noting that the recent resumption of the Trilateral Summit and Foreign Ministers' Meeting reflects a renewed commitment to this partnership. He highlighted the growing need for consumer policy cooperation due to the rise in cross-border e-commerce and post-COVID travel, urging stronger collaboration to protect consumer rights across these nations. The TCS remains dedicated to supporting these efforts. This year’s meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in consumer policy, addressing cross-border consumer harms, and sharing updates on the collective consumer redress systems in the three countries. Sessions included discussions on the latest consumer policy trends, consumption market trends, and the challenges faced in implementing collective redress systems. The event underlined the ongoing commitment of the three nations to enhance consumer protection and foster collaboration in tackling emerging consumer issues in the region.▲ Group photo▲TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji delivering speech

On September 4, 2024, Secretary-General KIM Jae-shin of the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) paid a visit to the TCS and met with Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup. Secretary-General LEE briefed on the latest developments in trilateral cooperation, and expressed hopes for the TCS and AKC to deepen mutual collaboration to enhance cooperation with ASEAN. In response, Secretary-General KIM outlined the key roles of the AKC and underscored the importance of maintaining regular communication between the two organizations to explore potential cooperation areas.

On August 26, 2024, H.E. WU Hailong, the President of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) paid a visit to the TCS and met with the 7th Consultative Board. All three Board including Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup, Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji and Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang attended the meeting.SG LEE expressed his appreciation on behalf of the TCS for CPDA’s collaboration with TCS. He briefed on the current progress of the preparation for the Trilateral Visionary Group (TVG) and extended his wish for CPDA’s continuous support on the upcoming TVG meeting.Recalling the success of the first TVG meeting held in Xiamen, China last year, President WU expressed hopes to continue the meeting this year in Korea. He also stressed that in the wake of the Trilateral Summit held in late May this year, trilateral cooperation should be promoted more actively. He suggested TCS to take on leading role to organize dialogues for the three countries to address and discuss methods to overcome common challenges together.

From August 17th to 23rd, 2024, the CJK Children’s Story Exchange (CSE) program took place in Tokyo and Gunma, Japan. This year, the program welcomed 100 elementary students from Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) who participated in the main storybook-making event. Additionally, 18 alumni students from previous CJK programs participated in a special sub-program focused on cultural exchange activities and networking. The children's program was organized by the National Institute for Youth Education (NIYE), while the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), serving as the official co-organizer of the alumni program, coordinated the alumni event.At the opening ceremony, TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji emphasized that this year's theme, "water," symbolizes the vital cross-border cooperation among the three countries. He referenced the recent 9th Trilateral Summit held in May 2024, noting that initiatives like the Children’s Story Exchange were affirmed during the summit as crucial for fostering international collaboration. He expressed hope that the success of this project would inspire greater cooperation among the younger generation, who will shape the future of CJK relations.The Alumni Program commenced on August 17th with a series of engaging activities in Tokyo. Alumni participants took part in orientation sessions, icebreaking activities, game nights, lectures, and a creative workshops. These activities laid the groundwork for meaningful interactions and set the tone for the rest of the program.From August 19th to 23rd, the alumni participants continued their journey in Gunma, where they engaged in a variety of enriching cultural activities. These included site visits to the Shorinzan Daruma Temple, Kamitsukeno Sato Museum, Harada Farm, Mizukikoukan (Water Journey Museum), among other significant cultural locations. A highlight of the program was the group performances prepared by the alumni participants, which were showcased in front of the children participants and representatives from the CJK host institutions. These performances served as a testament to the bonds of friendship formed during the program.The CJK Children’s Story Exchange Program was first established in 2002 in Japan, with the goal of encouraging reading and promoting mutual understanding among children from Japan, China, and the ROK through storybooks and fairytales. In 2011, the program adopted a trilateral format, with the three countries agreeing to host the event on a rotational basis. The Alumni Program, launched in 2013, has become a vital component of the CSE initiative. Since 2017, when the CSE was held in Seoul, ROK, TCS has been designated as the official co-organizer of the Alumni Program, taking responsibility for the program’s coordination.▲Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI delivering Congratulatory Remarks▲Group Photo