DEAR PARTICIPANTS,

I am honored and delighted to take part in the Trilateral Cooperation Youth Forum 2016 and to welcome all participants joining it.

Globalization and the rapid growth in communications have created a great number of opportunities as well as challenges. Today’s world requires us to be knowledgeable and flexible enough to adjust, prepare and deal with unprecedented or previously unknown threat and challenge. In today’s world, international cooperation is an important and indispensable tool to build on opportunities and to confront challenges. The basic element in cooperation is communications and the need to be open to work with others towards common goal.

You have a unique opportunity as participants in the Trilateral Cooperation Youth Forum to advance it as a platform for making a difference in the world. The timing and theme of the Forum are well aligned with the 2030 Global Agenda that was adopted by world leaders in 2015. I invite all participants from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea to discuss the links between on the Forum’s main theme of “Sustainable Co-existence and Co-prosperity in Northeast Asia” and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/) and identifying issues that are particularly important and relevant for your region.

Today’s generation of youth is the largest in humanity’s history and holds the key to its own future. Cooperation and collaboration between your countries can serve as an example to others and build a new chapter in relations built on working for a more prosperous, just and peaceful world. Be proud to be part of this journey.

Thank you.