Minister Kang Kyung-wha Meets with Secretary-Generals of the Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat

Minister Kang "Hopes the Northeast Asia Relay Olympics will foster a growing atmosphere of regional peace and cooperation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with Secretary-General Michigami Hisashi, Deputy Secretary-General Kang Do-ho, and Deputy Secretary-General Chao Jing of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 21st. The Secretariat, launched in September last year, was praised for its efforts to promote trilateral cooperation and development among the three Northeast Asian countries, and they exchanged views on the future directions of TCS's contributions.

TCS is an international organization established in Seoul in 2011 at South Korea's proposal following the 2009 trilateral summit, overseeing cooperation among South Korea, China, and Japan. The Secretariat consists of one Secretary-General and two Deputy Secretaries-General, totaling three members. The Secretary-General's term is two years, and Secretary-General Michigami has been serving as the 5th Secretary-General since September last year.

Minister Kang said at the meeting, "We appreciate that TCS has contributed to practical cooperation among South Korea, China, and Japan, and we ask that during Secretary-General Michigami's tenure, TCS further contribute to discovering diverse trilateral cooperative projects. Our government will continue to support the Secretariat's activities and functions as the host country of TCS."

Minister Kang also mentioned that as South Korea serves as the chair country of the trilateral cooperation system this year, it plans to work closely with China and Japan to successfully host the trilateral summit, requesting active cooperation from TCS. Furthermore, she expressed hope that the atmosphere of regional peace cooperation, sparked by the Northeast Asia relay Olympics starting with the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, followed by the Tokyo Olympics this year, and the 2022 Beijing Olympics, will continue to spread.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Secretary-General Michigami and the TCS Secretariat expressed their gratitude for the interest and support shown by our government and Minister Kang Kyung-wha, and conveyed that TCS will also make every effort necessary for the joint development of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, China, and Japan, as well as the successful hosting of the trilateral summit to be held in Korea this year."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.