Photo: Lee Hee-sup, Secretary General, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS)

The Eleventh ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum was held in Kunming, the capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, on the afternoon of September 17. Under the theme "Increase Inter-connectivity for Common Development and Shared Benefits," 13 representatives from mainstream media outlets across different countries delivered speeches or keynote speeches centered on this topic. Multiple media guests also engaged in on-site dialogues and exchanges on topics including "Foster New Growth Drivers and Share New Development Opportunities." Lee Hee-sup, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), delivered a video speech at the forum. The following is the full text of the speech:

Excellencies, distinguished guests, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, 

It is my great honor to join you today through this video message for the Eleventh ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum. The TCS values its partnership with the People's Daily. I am delighted that we have been able to support one another in many meaningful endeavors. On behalf of TCS, I extend my sincere congratulations to the People's Daily for organizing this important event. 

Over the years, the ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum has established itself as an indispensable platform for media scholars and experts exchanging ideas and building partnerships across the region. I am especially pleased to see its resumption after nearly five years and I am confident that this year's forum will once again contribute to strengthening communication, fostering mutual understanding and deepening cooperation in Asia and beyond.

ASEAN Plus Three (APT) framework has long stood as a successful model of regional multilateralism, contributing significantly to economic growth, stability, and prosperity. From advancing financial cooperation and enhancing supply chain resilience to promoting sustainable development and people-to-people exchanges, APT has been a great source of inspiration for the rise in the unwavering speed of dialogue cooperation that participating countries have upheld, even in the face of complex challenges. 

Trilateral cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea was born in 1999 on the sidelines of the APT summit, and since then, it provided continuous impetus to APT's development. The coordination process and APT have reinforced each other. And ASEAN is likewise supported by the three Northeast Asia partners at the ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting of China, Japan, and South Korea held in May last year. The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen coordination within APT, promote trilateral cooperation with other partners and drive common development across the region. This has provided new impetus for advancing the regional cooperation and prosperity.

Since its establishment in 2011, TCS has worked to build partnerships and expand cooperation with ASEAN member states. We have actively participated in APT summits, invited ASEAN countries to share insights with counterparts in China, Japan, and welcomed ASEAN students to engage with their peers from across the region. 

These efforts all aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, deepening people-to-people exchanges and promoting common development in the region and beyond. Media play a truly indispensable role in this process. They are not only observers and recorders but also active participants and enablers of regional cooperation. By providing accurate reporting, highlighting stories of collaboration, and amplifying voices of understanding, the media of APT countries can help bridge perception gaps, foster mutual understanding across the region, and bring our people closer to the world. At TCS, we look at media exchanges and cooperation as a key priority. We will continue to work closely with media partners to strengthen ties and build bridges of understanding among the peoples of the APT countries. 

I wish the Eleventh ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Media Cooperation Forum every success, and I look forward to deepening our collaboration with all media partners in the years ahead. Thank you very much.