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
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
