TCS

The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) announced the launch of the “CJK Word of the Year 2026” voting campaign, co-hosted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK MOFA). This annual initiative aims to promote mutual understanding and cultural affinity among the peoples of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea by selecting a symbolic word that best represents trilateral cooperation. The online voting will be open from October 20 to November 20, 2025. Citizens of the three countries can choose one out of six candidate —Mutual Benefit (互惠/互惠/호혜), Friendship (友好/友好/우호), Trust (信赖/信頼/신뢰), Understanding (理解/理解/이해), Embracement (包容/包容/포용), and Promotion·Acceleration (促进/促進/촉진)—and the selected “CJK Word of the Year 2026” will be officially announced on January 1, 2026.For more information on how to participate in the campaign, please visit the official voting website (https://cjkword.tcs-asia.org/). After the voting period concludes, selected participants will receive giveaway prizes through a lucky draw.In the previous campaign, “Future (未来/미래)” was chosen as the CJK Word of the Year 2025, reflecting people’s common wish to build a hopeful future together. The selection carried special meaning as it coincided with the “2025–2026 Year of China-Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange.” In 2024, the word “Exchange (交流/교류)” was selected, and in 2023, “Harmony (和合/화합)” was chosen.Marking its fourth edition this year, the “CJK Word of the Year” campaign has become one of TCS’s signature public projects, encouraging communication and mutual understanding among citizens of the three countries through the Chinese characters. TCS will continue to promote friendship and cooperation among the peoples of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea by fostering shared values that bridge cultures and borders.

On November 12, 2025, the Crested Ibis Local Government Summit was successfully held in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, bringing together approximately 60 participants, including mayors, government officials, and experts from China, Japan, and the ROK.The Summit was hosted by Sado City, co-hosted by Niigata Prefecture and the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Niigata, with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan participating as an observer. The program featured an opening ceremony, followed by Session 1 on local initiatives, Session 2 with keynote speeches and best practice presentations, Session 3 as a panel discussion, and finally the adoption of the Summit Declaration.Participating local governments included Yang County, Yancheng City, and Qianyang County from China; Sado City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Izumo City from Japan; and Changnyeong County from the ROK, etc. These local authorities have been carrying out initiatives aimed at the reintroduction of the Crested Ibis into the wild.Secretary-General LEE Hee-sup of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) attended the Summit and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. In his speech, SG LEE highlighted that the Crested Ibis has evolved from a joint conservation effort into a symbol of friendship and shared prosperity among China, Japan, and the ROK, and further into a new model for international cooperation. He noted that collaboration centered on the Crested Ibis has expanded across diverse fields—including science, culture, sports, and environmental education—contributing not only to biodiversity preservation but also to the economic vitality and quality of life of local communities.He underscored the importance of integrating the concept of the “eco-economy”—linking environmental conservation with sustainable local development—and called on the three countries to build a trilateral ecological economic belt as a model for global sustainable growth. SG LEE also reflected on the deeper meaning of trilateral cooperation, emphasizing that the three countries are “partners in the same boat”, sharing the spirit of coexistence, co-prosperity, and a common destiny amid global uncertainties.By connecting local governments from the three countries under a common vision, the Summit once again demonstrated the spirit of trilateral friendship and practical cooperation.▲SG LEE delivering his remarks▲Group photo

On November 7, 2025, a delegation from the Institute of Asian Studies, China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), led by Acting Director Ms. YANG Yue, paid a visit to the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS). TCS Deputy Secretary-General ZUSHI Shuji warmly welcomed the delegation.DSG ZUSHI highlighted the long-standing partnership between TCS and CFAU under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and commended CFAU’s active support for TCS initiatives and its substantial contributions to advancing trilateral cooperation, particularly in areas such as youth exchanges and policy coordination. He also recognized CFAU’s important role as the Chinese focal point of the Network of Trilateral Cooperation Think-Tanks (NTCT) and reaffirmed TCS’s commitment to supporting CFAU’s continued efforts in NTCT.Acting Director YANG expressed her appreciation for TCS’s support and recalled the successful cooperation between the two organizations through programs such as NTCT, the internship program, and the 2023 Trilateral Youth Summit. She briefed DSG ZUSHI on CFAU’s recent work and progress related to NTCT and looked forward to TCS’s ongoing support. She also expressed expectations to further strengthen cooperation with TCS under the MOU and explore new opportunities for collaboration and exchange.▲Group Photo

On November 6, 2025, the 1st Trilateral IP Startup Camp (TIPSC) successfully concluded in Beijing, China, following four days of training, mentorship, and cross-border collaboration focused on Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence.In his remarks at the closing ceremony, TCS Economic Affairs Director XU Hongda congratulated all participants on the successful conclusion of the 1st Trilateral IP Startup Camp and expressed sincere appreciation to the co-host China Intellectual Property Training Center (CIPTC) and supporting partners, Japan National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) and the Korea International Intellectual Property Training Institute (KIIPTI) for their valuable collaboration. He noted that the Camp not only marked a meaningful first step in TCS’s engagement in the IP field but also resonated with the broader regional and global drive for innovation, particularly in light of recent APEC initiatives on AI and demographic transformation. Mr. XU expressed the hope to continue engaging with all stakeholders to further enhance and refine the program in the future.Throughout the program, conducted under the theme "Intellectual Synergy, Innovation for the Future," young entrepreneurs from China, Japan, and ROK deepened their understanding of IP protection and utilization in emerging technologies. This included attending four expert lectures that provided up-to-date insights into the intersection of AI and IP. OUYANG Rihui, Vice Dean of the China Center for Internet Economy Research, shared with participants insights on "Major Future Application Scenarios of AI Technology." CAO Jia, VP/CTO of Zhongke Wenge Technology Co., Ltd., explored with participants the latest "Developments and Trends in Artificial Intelligence Technology." LIU Haibo, Member of the Academic Committee of the Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave a lecture on "Intellectual Property Entrepreneurship Support Policies & Case Studies." Finally, BA Te, Deputy Director General of the South-South Global Technology Exchange, used case studies to showcase "Layout for AI Startups at Different Stages."A central component of this program was the collaborative workshop where participants, divided into two groups, developed and refined business models integrating comprehensive IP strategies. The resulting final presentations showcased creative and practical solutions to pressing social issues, leading to the recognition of two outstanding teams. The team that proposed a smart mirror solution to address challenges faced by an aging society received the Innovation Award, while the team that developed a smart shield (phishing damage prevention service) focused on preventing fraud and financial damage was honored with the Excellence Award. To gain practical knowledge of corporate IP strategies, the participants undertook two important site visits to leading Chinese enterprises, Tencent and JD.com. These visits offered helpful firsthand insights into how major corporations implement and manage their Intellectual Property and innovation strategies within a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The successful completion of the 1st TIPSC solidified its role as an important platform for future leadership development in IP-driven innovation across the three nations.▲Group Photo after the Closing Ceremony▲Lecture session▲Business Plan Presentation on Smart Mirror▲Business Plan Presentation on Smart Shield▲Exchange with Tencent IP experts▲Group Photo at Tencent▲Site Visiting to JD.com▲Group Photo at JD.com