ASEAN-Korea Centre Hosts 22nd Tripartite Meeting in Gyeongju

ASEAN-Korea Centre Hosts 22nd Tripartite Meeting in Gyeongju

- First Joint Youth Program, 'ASEAN+3 Youth Retreat,' Held on the Occasion of the Annual Tripartite Meeting... 42 Youth from 11 ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and Korea Participate -

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC, Secretary General Kim Jae-shin), serving as this year's Chair of cooperation among the three Centres, hosted the 22nd Tripartite Meeting Among Secretaries General of the AKC, AJC and ACC in Gyeongju on September 2. The meeting was attended by H.E. Kim Jae-shin, Secretary General of the AKC; H.E. Zhang Lizhong, Secretary General of the ACC; and Dr. Kunihiko Hirabayashi, Secretary General of the AJC, who shared their respective Centres' key achievements and upcoming plans and discussed future directions for cooperation among the three Centres.

At this year's meeting, the three Centres reviewed the procedures and progress regarding Timor-Leste's accession to each Centre following its accession to ASEAN. They also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation among the three Centres and expand ASEAN+3 exchanges in response to the evolving regional landscape. Ahead of the meeting, the Secretaries General of the three Centres paid a courtesy call on Mr. Joo Nak Young, Mayor of Gyeongju, and exchanged views on ways to further promote ASEAN+3 exchanges and cooperation at the local level.

On the occasion of this year's annual Tripartite Meeting, the three Centres also jointly held the 'ASEAN+3 Youth Retreat' in Gyeongju from September 1 to 4 as their first joint youth program bringing together youth from ASEAN, China, Japan, and Korea. The Retreat brought together 42 youth from 14 countries-11 ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and Korea. Proposed by the AKC as a new collaborative initiative at the 21st Tripartite Meeting in 2025, the program enabled participants to work in teams to develop initiatives for ASEAN+3 cooperation and use artificial intelligence (AI) to further refine their ideas. They also visited cultural heritage sites in Gyeongju and engaged with youth from different countries, deepening their understanding of one another's cultures and of ASEAN+3 cooperation.

The Secretaries General of the three Centres noted that the Retreat provided an opportunity for youth from ASEAN, China, Japan, and Korea to exchange perspectives and grow as next-generation leaders who can help shape a sustainable future together. Three teams recognized as outstanding at the team presentation session will subsequently visit Indonesia, China, and Japan, respectively, to engage with local organizations and youth and further develop their proposed initiatives. The Retreat holds particular significance as the first joint youth program to extend the three Centres' longstanding cooperation into direct youth participation and exchange.

Annex 1. Program Outline

Annex 2. Program Poster

Photo 1.

▲ Delegations of the AKC, ACC, and AJC pose for a group photo following the 22nd Tripartite Meeting. September 2, Gyeongju.

Photo 2.

▲ Delegations of the AKC, ACC, and AJC pose for a group photo with Mr. Joo Nak Young, Mayor of Gyeongju, during the courtesy call. September 2, Gyeongju.

Photo 3.

▲ Participants of the ASEAN+3 Youth Retreat present their ASEAN+3 cooperation initiatives during the team presentation session. September 3, Gyeongju.

Photo 4.

▲ Members of the three outstanding teams pose for a group photo with Secretary General Kim Jae-shin of the AKC, Secretary General Zhang Lizhong of the ACC, and Secretary General Kunihiko Hirabayashi of the AJC during the award ceremony. September 3, Gyeongju.