The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat is an international organization established with a vision to promote peace and common prosperity among China, Japan, and South Korea. Upon the agreement signed and ratified by each of the three governments, the TCS was officially inaugurated in Seoul, September 2011. On the basis of equal participation, each government shares 1/3 of total operational budget.
2010 – Agreement on the Establishment of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat was signed by the leaders of the three countries.
2011 – Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat was established in Seoul.
Organization
The TCS consists of a Consultative Board and four Departments. The Consultative Board, which is the executive decision-making body of the organization, is composed of a Secretary-General and two Deputy Secretary-Generals. 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. Under the Consultative Board, there are four Departments of Political Affairs, Economic Affairs, Socio-Cultural Affairs, and Management. The Four Departments are composed of officials seconded by the three countries, and General Service Staff recruited through open competition from the three countries.
Provide administrative and technical support for the operation and management of such trilateral consultative mechanisms among the three countries as the Trilateral Summit Meeting, the Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the Three-Party Committee and other ministerial meetings, and the Trilateral Senior Foreign Affairs Officials’ Consultation and to send, if necessary, its representatives to attend major consultative mechanisms.
Communicate and coordinate with the three countries and, if necessary, with other international organizations.
Explore and identify potential cooperative projects among the three countries and report those projects to the relevant consultative mechanisms for adoption.
Evaluate the cooperative projects and draft reports on them, compile necessary documents into database, and submit annual progress reports to the Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting for approval.
Conduct research on important issues related to the trilateral cooperation, manage the Secretariat’s website, and promote understanding of the trilateral cooperation.
Activities
Participation in trilateral consultative mechanisms
Trilateral Summit, ASEAN+3 Summit
Other high-level and working-level trilateral mechanisms including the Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Economic and Trade Ministers’ Meeting, Culture Ministers’ Meeting, the Tripartite Health Ministers’ Meeting, and the Tripartite Environmental Ministers’ Meeting
