On June 14^th, the International Forum for Trilateral Cooperation 2022 was hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat in Seoul under the theme “Future-oriented Trilateral Cooperation: Lasting Peace, Common Prosperity and Shared Culture”. 

H.E. Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12^th National People’s Congress of China, H.E. Hirose Katsusada, Governor of Oita Prefecture in Japan and H.E. Kim Hwang-sik，former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea respectively delivered keynote speeches at the opening ceremony of the forum. H.E. Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor & Foreign Minister, H.E. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japanese Foreign Minister  and H.E. Park Jin, South Korean Foreign Minister delivered congratulatory messages to the forum. H.E. Wang Chao, President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs made keynote speech on the first session of the forum.

President Wang Chao highlighted that China, Japan and South Korea, as closely-neighbouring countries, are highly integrated in their interests and therefore have great potential for trilateral cooperation thanks to their unique geographic advantage, commonly-fostered culture and historic ties. He suggested that the three nations strengthen political mutual trust to maintain lasting peace, support multilateral trade to achieve common prosperity and enhance people-to-people friendship to embrace shared culture.

Also attending the forum were other 20-odd VIP guests including H.E. Yang Yanyi, former Chinese Ambassador to EU, H.E. Wu Hailong, President of China Public Diplomacy Association, H.E. kenichiro Sasae, President of Japan Institute of international Affairs, and H.E. Kim Sung-Hwan, former South Korean Minister.