By Chung Min-uck
Amid skepticism on prospects for European Union style integration in Northeast Asia, staff from a trilateral body remains optimistic about unity among people in the three nations.
“We know we have problems among the three nations especially because of the historical and territorial problems,” said Liu Xiaoxiao, 29, Chinese employee at the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat.
“But we also have dreams of cooperation for the future. I certainly believe that we can establish and strengthen the cooperation.”
Another staffer from Japan agreed with her Chinese colleague.
“Some people (in Northeast Asia) are really nationalistic. They don’t care about other countries and don’t like to share with other countries,” said Matsuura Akiko, 27, Japanese employee at the Secretariat.
“But the people here have big minds to accept the differences. I really think it’s important to work with people from other countries. We have individual differences but that doesn’t have to be nationalistic.”
The growing integrity of economy and politics in a same region which is shown in European Union, would be nothing if there is no bond among Europeans.
According to Asia Values Survey released during Asia Economic Community Forum this year, less than half of the university students from Korea, China and Japan answered the integration in Northeast Asia is necessary, and only 23.5 percent thought it was actually possible.
Yet, the young employees at the newly established Secretariat insist the integration of the region is not a mere dream and that the independent body would play a crucial role for the region’s future.
“I am thinking of ways in creating synergy effect through the cooperation of the region,” said Shin Ho-sik, 32, a Korean employee at the Secretariat.
“I think it is really exciting place to work because there are Koreans, Japanese and Chinese working together. I want the Secretariat to be at the hub, the center of trilateral cooperation in the area. At the same time we can influence other areas too,” said Matsuura.
“Since we have been acknowledged our independence, I bet the Secretariat can absorb the political conflicts by working on projects in various sectors,” said Shin.
The secretariat is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and has around 30 staff treated as diplomats from the three countries.
Appointed in May 2011, former Korean Ambassador for international economic cooperation Shin Bong-kil is to serve for two years as secretary general under a rotating leadership structure within the three nations.
Matsukawa Rui, Counselor at the Japanese Embassy in Korea and Mao Ning, Director of the Office for Korean Peninsula of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, are the deputy secretary-general of the organization.