1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha met with the members of the 5^th Consultative Board of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) -- Secretary-General Michigami Hisashi as well as Deputy Secretaries-General Kang Do-ho and Cao Jing -- at 15:00-15:20, January 21. The Minister commended the Consultative Board, which had been launched in September 2019, for its efforts to advance cooperation among the three Northeast Asian countries, and exchanged views on ways for the TCS to contribute in the future.

2. Minister Kang took note of the contribution of the TCS to substantive cooperation among the Republic of Korea (ROK), the People’s Republic of China and Japan, asked the TCS to help identify more diverse projects for trilateral cooperation during the tenure of Secretary-General Michigami, and mentioned that the ROK government, the host of the TCS, will continue to help the TCS reinforce its activities and functions.

3. Minister Kang mentioned that, in particular, as the chair of the trilateral cooperation mechanism in 2020, the ROK will work closely with China and Japan toward a successful Trilateral Summit and asked for the TCS’ active cooperation.

° Minister Kang expressed hope that amid the series of the Olympics held and to be held in Northeast Asia, including the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games, the mood of peace and cooperation will grow in the region.

4. Secretary-General Michigami and the other members of the TCS delegation extended appreciation to the ROK government and Minister Kang for their attention and support, and conveyed the TCS’ willingness to make every necessary effort for joint development of cooperation among the ROK, China and Japan, and especially for the success of the Trilateral Summit, which will take place in the ROK in 2020.