The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) is an
international organization
An international organization or international organisation (see spelling differences), also known as an intergovernmental organization or an international institution, is a stable set of norms and rules meant to govern the behavior of states a ...
established with a vision to promote ''Lasting Peace, Common Prosperity, and Shared Culture'' among
China,
Japan, and
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
. Upon the agreement signed and ratified by each of the three governments, the TCS was officially inaugurated in
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
, on 1 September 2011. On the basis of equal participation, each government shares 1/3 of the total operational budget.
Background
Development of Trilateral Cooperation
The idea of a trilateral framework between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea has its roots in the breakfasts attended by the three leaders at the sidelines of the 1999
ASEAN+3 Summit in Manila.
This meeting marked the first step for developing trilateral cooperation and its framework, with 1999 being celebrated as the first year of China-Japan-South Korea cooperation.
The three countries continued to hold annual meetings at the ASEAN+3 Summit. After several years of negotiations, the three countries agreed at the 2007 ASEAN+3 Summit to hold separate stand-alone meetings in the future.
Hence, in 2008, what began as a side-conference to the ASEAN meetings officially developed into the first China-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Summit, held in
Fukuoka
is the sixth-largest city in Japan, the second-largest port city after Yokohama, and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since anc ...
, Japan.
Foundation of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS)
Discussions of a stand-alone secretariat began in 2009 at the 2nd Trilateral Summit held in
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
, China. This was officially agreed upon by the three countries in May 2010 at the 3rd Trilateral Summit held in
Jeju, Republic of Korea, where the three leaders signed the Memorandum. Later in December 2010, the three governments signed the ''Agreement on the Establishment of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat.'' and the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat was finally established in Seoul, Republic of Korea in September 2011.
Organization
The TCS consists of a Consultative Board and four Departments.
Consultative Board
The Consultative Board, the executive decision-making body of the organization, is composed of a Secretary-General (SG) and two Deputy Secretaries-General (DSG). The Secretary-General is appointed on a two-year rotational basis in the order of the South Korea, Japan, and China. Each country other than the one of the Secretary-General nominates a Deputy Secretary-General respectively.
Departments
Under the Consultative Board, there are four Departments of Political Affairs, Economic Affairs, Socio-Cultural Affairs, and Management and Coordination. The Four Departments are composed of officials seconded by the three countries, and General Service Staff recruited through open competition from the three countries.
Functions
Under the mission of promoting ''Lasting Peace, Common Prosperity, and Shared Culture'', the TCS aims to serve as a hub for the Trilateral Cooperation that encompasses a broad spectrum of sectors and actors.
# Supporting Trilateral Consultative Mechanism
# Promoting Public Awareness on Trilateral Cooperation
# Exploring and Facilitating Cooperative Projects
# Collaborating with Other International Organizations
# Compiling Database and Conducting Research
Projects
Youth Exchange
* Trilateral Youth Exchange Network (TYE
* Young Ambassador Program (YA
* Trilateral Youth Summit (TY
* Trilateral Youth Speech Contest (TYS
* CAMPUS Asia Alumni Network (CAAN) an
Workshop* CJK Children's Story Exchange Alumn
Program* Young Scholars Forum
* Young Rural Leaders Exchange Program
Promoting trilateral cooperation / Cooperative projects
* International Forum for Trilateral Cooperation (IFT
* Trilateral Entrepreneurs Forum (TE
* Trilateral Journalist Exchange Program (TJE
* CJK Virtual Maratho
* Inter-regional Dialogue for Regional Cooperation
Research and Publications
* Trilateral Statistics Hu
* Report “An Evolving Trilateral Cooperation: Reality and Outlookâ
* Trilateral Economic Repor
* Trilateral Common Vocabulary Dictionary (TCVD
* Trilateral Best Practices: Application of Technology for Reducing Disaster Risks in China, Japan and Kore
* Annual Report
* Other publications relating to political, economic and socio-cultural cooperation
* Compilation of information database regarding trilateral cooperation
See also
*
China–Japan–South Korea trilateral summit
*
China–Japan–South Korea Free Trade Agreement
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2011 establishments in South Korea
International diplomatic organizations
International organizations based in South Korea
Organizations based in Seoul
Organizations established in 2011
China–Japan–South Korea relations