TCS organized International Forum for the Trilateral Cooperation (IFTC) 2018 on April 18th at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Tokyo, Japan, under the main theme of “The Opening of a New Chapter for Trilateral Cooperation – The Past 10 years, the Coming 10 Years”. The forum brought together around 30 high-profile government officials and prominent scholars to share their insights along with the forum theme and attracted more than 300 participants from three governments, academia, media, business sectors and diplomatic community. 

Since the independent Trilateral Summit held in 2008, 10 years passed. In this significant occasion, IFTC 2018 aims to look back on the achievement of trilateral cooperation made in the past 10 years and to prospect the future course of trilateral cooperation in the coming 10 years. Against a backdrop of high expectation on resuming Trilateral Summit which gives momentum to accelerating development of overall trilateral cooperation as well as the current complex changes across Northeast Asia, the Forum took place in an appropriate timing and occasion providing a meaningful platform to discuss the implication and significance of trilateral cooperation in building regional peace and stability to pull the collective wisdom for consolidating and advancing trilateral cooperation with a long-term perspective.  

The forum started with an opening remark by Mr. LEE Jongheon, Secretary-General of the TCS, followed by the congratulatory remarks by Mr. NAKANE Kazuyuki, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. CHENG Yonghua, Ambassador of China to Japan, Mr. LEE Su Hoon, Ambassador of the ROK to Japan, Ms. BUXIAOLIN, Governor of Inner Mongolia, PARK Enna, Ambassador for Public Diplomacy of the ROK, Mr. QIAO Yongqing, Secretary General and member of Editorial board of People’s Daily, Mr. PARK Jeong Hoon, Editorial writer of the Chosun Ilbo. At the opening ceremony, Mr. KOMURA Masahiko, Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. DAI Bingguo, former State Councilor of China, and Mr. MOON Hee-sang, member and former vice Speaker of the National Assembly of the ROK delivered keynote speeches. ​

Mr. KOMURA Masahiko reviewed the progress of trilateral cooperation since 1999, and underlined that trilateral cooperation is the future-oriented cooperation mechanism beyond the bilateral relations. The value of trilateral cooperation lies in the fact that it makes the three neighbouring countries catalysts to promote bilateral relations among the three countries. He wishes that the trilateral cooperation will develop into a new dimension in 2018.​

Mr. DAI Bingguo noted that since its official inauguration nearly 20 years ago, trilateral cooperation has established comprehensive cooperation mechanisms, achieved productive results, greatly promoted stability and development of the region and lent strong impetus to the process of East Asia cooperation. Next year will mark the 20th Anniversary of the inauguration of trilateral cooperation, at this new historical starting point, the three countries are required to build a new strategic trust, create new highlights and greater popular support, a more peaceful and stable regional environment, promote trilateral cooperation to a higher level, benefit region and the world. ​

Mr. MOON Hee-sang emphasized that it is crucial for the three countries to share the commitment to be the leading states for East Asian community, achieve the goals of the VISION 2020 and develop a new VISION 2030. He encouraged the three countries to learn the experience from the integration process of the European Union to enhance the mutual trust, overcome bilateral confrontations and deal with the denuclearization of Korean peninsula.

The forum speakers from the three countries engaged in heated discussion and shared their wisdom on the trilateral cooperation in the following three sessions: 1) Drawing collaborative Roadmap towards regional peace and co-prosperity, 2) Institutionalizing trilateral mechanism fueled by economic cooperation, 3) Co-creating and co-sharing: Promoting future-oriented trilateral cultural & people-to-people exchange. 

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