TCS

On September 18, 2023, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup participated in the International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum Incheon 2023, and delivered the congratulatory remarks at the opening session. The forum was hosted by Incheon Metropolitan City, The Incheon Institute, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. TCS was a co-organizer of the Forum. ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. KAO Kim Hourn delivered the Keynote Speech at the opening session as well. Representatives from Northeast/Southeast Asian governments and of local governments as well as experts on disaster risk reduction (DRR) from various countries beyond Asia attended the forum and shared their insights in disaster risk reduction.The implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 is now halfway through, and countries and cities around the world are expanding their efforts to reduce disaster risks. However, in order to make countries and communities resilient against climate change, economic crises and conflicts, further disaster prevention and disaster management efforts are needed. The first forum was held in 2022, and this is the second time under the theme 'Opportunities and challenges of using technology for climate and disaster risk reduction at the regional level'. The Forum seeks to accelerate the implementation of the Framework and also the Paris Agreement through the exchange of views at the Forum.In his remarks, SG LEE expressed his sincere congratulations and gratitude to the co-organizers, and highlighted the importance of regularly sharing the DRR insights, experiences and policies to learn from each other for further enhanced capacities. He also emphasized on promoting trilateral cooperations (cooperations between China, Japan, and ROK(CJK)) in DRR field mentioning Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management by the governments of CJK and noted that TCS is committed to further enhancing regional and international cooperation in DRR in collaboration with key stakeholders.In the forum, the first session (Part 1) saw the introduction of CJK Education and Training Institutes Online Workshop, which TCS hold with the UNDRR, and ministries, and institutes of the three countries on August 2nd, sharing the outcomes of the webinar, demonstrated how technology can support earthquake preparedness and response.Also, during the forum, SG LEE met Ms. Loretta Hieber Girardet, Chief of Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity-Development Branch, UNDRR and Mr. Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of the UNDRR Office for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute (ONEA-GETI).Ms. Loretta Hieber Girardet thanked SG LEE for the TCS’s continuous active engagement with UNDRR, stressing the importance of the cooperation among CJK and UNDRR, expecting enhancement of sharing the knowledge and experience in the region with the world beyond the region.SG LEE extended his gratitude for the UNDRR’s partnership with TCS, committed further strengthening cooperation with UNDRR, stating that TCS will promote further cooperation among CJK on DRR toward the upcoming meetings such as the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management and the Trilateral Summit.▲ SG LEE Hee-sup delivering Congratulatory Remark▲ Group pictures with the participants of the Incheon Forum▲ Incheon Forum in progress▲ SG LEE and Ms. Loretta Hieber Girardet’s Meeting in progress▲ SG LEE and Ms. Loretta Hieber Girardet▲ Group Photo

On September 17, 2023, TCS Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang attended China-ASEAN Expo opening ceremony and delivered congratulatory remarks at the China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum & Conference on the 20th Anniversary of CABIS hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), The People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, The National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of 10 ASEAN Countries. As a sideline event of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo, the forum aimed to seize RCEP Opportunities and promote further cooperation.In his remarks, DSG YAN pointed out that China, Japan, and ROK are major world economies and crucial engines for global economic development, and RCEP, initiated by ASEAN, is the first free trade agreement that covers these three parties. And he added that TCS as an intergovernmental organization in this region has actively promoted trilateral and regional economic cooperation under the RCEP framework which has enhanced the stability and resilience of the regional supply chain and industrial network. He asserted that TCS would enhance cooperation with ASEAN members through a “TCS+” model to consolidate the foundation with ASEAN to benefit more people and make our shared future to be better.The 20th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, which opened in Nanning of Guangxi on the same day with the theme “Work together for a Harmonious Home and a Shared Future Promoting High-Quality Development of the BRI and Nurturing New Epicenter of Growth”, was co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China, economic and trade authorities of ten ASEAN countries, as well as the ASEAN Secretariat.▲DSG YAN delivering congratulatory remarks at China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum & Conference on the 20th Anniversary of CABIS

On September 15, 2023, the 15th Asia-Pacific RCE Regional Meeting was held in Tongyeong, Republic of Korea, under the theme ‘Empowering Sustainable Community through Education for Sustainable Development’. Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) was invited to share the outcomes of the 3rd Trilateral Environmental Teachers Exchange Program (TTEP), which took place in August 2023.TCS delegation delivered a presentation in Session 3: Sharing good practices and successful activities in empowering local community for ESD, focusing on the development of TTEP during and after the pandemic. The main outcomes of last year’s Trilateral Symposium on Environmental Education and this year’s 3rd TTEP was presented as a case study of promoting environmental education in the region. In the Q&A session, TCS also shared plans for future project ideas, as well as suggestions for collaboration with RCE members.RCE is a network of formal, non-formal, and informal organizations that facilitate ESD in local and regional communities, comprising of 190 centers around the world.* RCE: Regional Centres of Expertise on ESD* ESD: Education for Sustainable Development▲TCS Program Officer KANG Prum delivering a presentation on Trilateral Environment Teachers Exchange Program (TTEP)

On September 15, TCS Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup, Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji and Deputy Secretary-General YAN Liang (collectively as the 7th “Consultative Board”) paid a courtesy call on the Republic of Korea Foreign Minister PARK Jin.Minister PARK congratulated the 7th Board’s assumption of the office and acknowledged the significance of the TCS’ role in promoting peace and prosperity in the region. Underlining the TCS’ efforts, he emphasized that the people-to-people exchange in various fields is crucial, especially for the youth, to understand each other’s culture and instill mutual respect. Minister PARK also added that the ROK government, as the chair of the Trilateral Summit, has been making joint efforts with the Chinese and Japanese governments to organize the Trilateral Summit within this year. He expressed his continued support to TCS as the Foreign Minister, and noted with expectation that the TCS would further develop under the new leadership.SG LEE extended his gratitude to Minister PARK’s warm welcome and the ROK government’s long-lasting support for trilateral cooperation and TCS despite various challenges. He reassured the TCS’ commitment to promote trilateral cooperation as well as the Trilateral Summit. DSG ZUSHI and DSG YAN also expressed their expectations of continuing to work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked for more advice from the Minister on trilateral cooperation.▲Group Photo