1. The Foreign Ministry will hold the opening ceremony of “the diplomatic camp 2018 for Republic of Korea-China-Japan college students” in the Ministry’s Reception Hall at 9:00 am, July 17. The purpose of the camp is to boost exchanges and strengthen networks among the young of the three countries.

° “The diplomatic camp 2018 for ROK-China-Japan college students,” the seventh of its kind since the first held in 2012, will bring together a combined 90 college students from the three countries and take place in Suncheon and Damyang, Jeolla-do, a province south of Seoul, from July 17 till 20.

° During the camp, the participating college students will present and discuss ideas on trilateral cooperation; share with one another their problems; and deliver presentations on their experiences in trilateral cooperation and exchanges, thereby enhancing mutual understanding. They will also have an opportunity to discuss the future of trilateral cooperation.

° In addition, the participants will be offered an opportunity to visit the Suncheon-man Bay National Garden and Wetland Reserve as well as the Damyang Bamboo Garden/Forest to experience the well-preserved nature of Korea; and to engage in exchanges and cooperation through various programs.

2. At the opening ceremony, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will stress that in order for the ROK-China-Japan trilateral cooperation to contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and to produce tangible results that the peoples of the three countries can see for themselves, it is of paramount importance for the future generations of the three countries to build friendship through communication and mutual understanding. She will also encourage the students to participate actively in the camp programs.

3. The Foreign Ministry expects that the four-day camp will serve as an opportunity for the young from the three countries to think about the future of trilateral cooperation and to pay a keener attention to and learn more about trilateral cooperation.

° Going forward, the Foreign Ministry will continue to actively seek out and conduct ROK-China-Japan cooperation projects that people in various sectors of the three countries can take part in and communicate through.

* unofficial translation