What did Cho Hyun say about Korea-China-Japan cooperation?

Cho said cooperation among Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo is important for the practical interests of their peoples and for achieving peace and prosperity in East Asia. He urged the TCS to help the three countries find common ground and keep dialogue going.

What is the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat and when was it created?

The TCS is a trilateral organization based in Seoul that was established in 2011. It was created after a Korean proposal at the second trilateral summit in 2009 and carries out programs such as people-to-people exchanges.

How long will the current Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat leadership serve?

The secretary-general position rotates among Korea, Japan and China, with each term lasting three years. The current leadership is set to remain in office through Aug. 31, 2029.

FM Cho calls for stronger Korea-China-Japan cooperation for regional peace

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Summary

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called for stronger cooperation among Korea, China and Japan to promote peace and prosperity in East Asia. He made the remarks during a Tuesday meeting with Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat officials who had just taken office. Cho also asked the TCS to serve as a platform for communication among the three countries.

Key Facts

The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat was established in Seoul in 2011 after a Korean proposal at the second trilateral summit in 2009.
The TCS runs programs including people-to-people exchanges to deepen three-way cooperation.
The secretary-general serves a three-year term, rotating among Korea, Japan and China in that order.
The current TCS leadership will serve through Aug. 31, 2029.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 30, 2026 8:56 am KST

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, center right, poses with Tatsushi Nishioka, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, center left, and Deputy Secretaries-General Kim Han-kyu, left, and Li Jing ahead of their talks in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has called for stronger cooperation among Korea, China and Japan to promote peace and prosperity in their shared region, his office said Wednesday.

Cho made the call during a meeting Tuesday with Tatsushi Nishioka, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), and Deputy Secretaries-General Kim Han-kyu and Li Jing, respectively from South Korea and China, to congratulate them on taking office this month, according to the ministry.

The TCS is a trilateral organization established in Seoul in 2011 following a Korean proposal at the second trilateral summit among the three nations in 2009. It carries out various programs, including people-to-people exchanges, aimed at deepening three-way cooperation.

During the talks, Cho stressed the importance of cooperation among Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo in promoting the practical interests of their peoples and achieving peace and prosperity in East Asia.

He said the Korean government will continue to play an active role in helping the three countries find common ground and maintain dialogue while asking the TCS to serve as a platform for communication among them.

The TCS officials expressed appreciation for Seoul's support for its activities as the host country and pledged to contribute to closer trilateral cooperation through various joint initiatives.

The secretary-general serves a three-year term, with the position rotating among Korea, Japan and China, in that order. The current leadership will serve through Aug. 31, 2029.

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