Strengthening solidarity among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to boost regional connectivity and meet global challenges was the consensus reached among policymakers, scholars and youth representatives from the three countries, who participated in a trilateral cooperation forum in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The 2025 Trilateral Cooperation Forum brought together over 200 in-person participants and hundreds of online attendees to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation among China, Japan and the ROK.
The annual event, hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) under the theme "Shaping the Future Together: Trilateral Cooperation under Global Transformation," featured two sub-sessions focusing on regional and global challenges facing the three countries.
The first session examined ways to strengthen trilateral cooperation through strategic and institutional frameworks, and the second session discussed collaboration on aging societies, climate change, carbon neutrality goals, and regional economic integration.
In his opening remarks, TCS Secretary-General Lee Hee-sup highlighted the significance of deepening cooperation among the three nations amid rising geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and protectionism.
Speaking to the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the forum, Lee Hee-sup said through cooperation, China, Japan and the ROK can jointly turn crises into opportunities.
"[The] International order is fragmenting, and global trade environment is very complex, uncertain and unstable, including the spreading of the protectionist policy, protectionism. The crisis can be an opportunity, an opportunity to China, Japan and Korea, and East Asia to sustain the development," he said.
Youth representatives from both Japan and the ROK echoed the TCS chief, saying that solidarity among the three countries, particularly the young generations, is key to opening up a better future for all.
"I think as someone who grew up in all three countries across the region, I realize that we share a lot of commonalities and we share this hope that we have for the future. I think that shared hope and something that brings us together will definitely serve as a point to help us move forward together," Lee Ji-hyun, a forum participant from the ROK, told CGTN.
"The younger generation is the future of a nation. I would like to bring inspiration to people in the region and contribute to its unity," said Anna Moromizato, a Japanese participant at the forum.
Trilateral forum calls for solidarity among China, Japan, ROK to address common challenges
Trilateral forum calls for solidarity among China, Japan, ROK to address common challenges
