Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat

Seminar & Forum Trilateral Common Vocabulary Forum 2025 Held in Anyang, China 2025-04-24

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On April 20, the Trilateral Common Vocabulary Forum 2025 was held in Anyang, China, as the first official program of the 2025–2026 China-Japan-ROK Cultural Exchange Year. The Forum was co-hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), the Foreign Affairs Office of the Henan Provincial People’s Government, and the Anyang Municipal People’s Government, with support from the National Museum of Chinese Writing, the Japan Kanji Museum & Library, and the Center for the Study of Chinese Characters in Korea.

The Forum, themed “Exploring Shared Heritage: The Role of Common Chinese Characters in Bridging China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea,” focused on the cultural connections and diverse evolution of Chinese characters across the three countries. Diplomats, researchers of Chinese characters, and calligraphers from the three countries, along with representatives from international organizations, participated in the event to promote collaboration and public engagement through discussions on language and culture, fostering deeper mutual understanding in Northeast Asia.

During the opening ceremony, Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup of the TCS highlighted the importance of revisiting the shared connection through Chinese characters, particularly in the context of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, which share a unique cultural history in East Asia. Given this context, LEE Hee-sup emphasized that the three countries will continue to stand together and move forward by tracing their common roots.

Furthermore, opening remarks were delivered in succession by LI Hongtao, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Henan Provincial People’s Government, and XUE Wenming, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Anyang Committee. This was followed by congratulatory remarks from USUI Masato, Minister at the Embassy of Japan in China, KIM Jingon, Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China, and video remarks from Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia.

As a forum commemorating the 16th UN Chinese Language Day, Prof. Shahbaz Khan emphasized that the shared vocabulary among China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea plays a vital role in building mutual understanding and strengthening people-to-people ties—directly supporting UNESCO’s mission to foster peace through intercultural dialogue, education, and respect for diversity. The ideas shared during the Forum were hoped to inspire lasting connections and contribute to greater understanding across generations.

The Forum included an opening ceremony and three sessions. Session 1 brought together Chinese character experts to engage in professional discussions on the significance of common vocabulary, the current state of academic cooperation, and future prospects, including proposed tasks for the TCS. Session 2 focused on comparative studies of Chinese characters by young researchers, with discussions exploring differences and commonalities in character usage, research methodologies, and ways to strengthen academic collaboration through joint studies and exchange programs. In Session 3, calligraphers from the three countries were invited to create calligraphy works centered on the theme “Love & Future”.

Held as a parallel event to the 2025 China (Anyang) International Conference on Chinese Characters, the Forum also aligned with the 2025–2026 China-Japan-ROK Cultural Exchange Year and the 16th UN Chinese Language Day. Since 2014, the TCS has promoted the 808 Commonly Used Chinese Characters to foster people-to-people exchanges and support collaboration among linguists in the region.