Gyeongju, September 3 (AseanAll) — On 2-3 September 2026, the 22nd Meeting among Secretaries General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) and ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC), along with the ASEAN Plus Three Youth Retreat co-organized by the three Centres, took place in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea(South Korea).
The meeting was chaired by Kim Jae-shin, Secretary General of the AKC, and attended by Zhang Lizhong, Secretary General of the ACC, and Kunihiko Hirabayashi, Secretary General of the AJC, together with heads of relevant divisions from the three Centres. A total of 42 young students from ASEAN, China, Japan and the ROK took part in the Youth Retreat.
At the tripartite meeting, the Secretaries General and their respective teams presented progress reports on their centres’ work in 2025 and outlined key priorities for 2026. They shared experience and outcomes in advancing economic and trade cooperation, people‑to‑people exchanges and capacity‑building training, and also exchanged views on the procedures and progress regarding Timor-Leste’s accession to the Centres.
Zhang Lizhong pointed out that over the past year, positive progress has been achieved under the APT Cooperation Work Plan (2023-2027). The RCEP has seen high-quality implementation. The three Centres have delivered notable outcomes in deepening APT cooperation and earned full recognition for their work. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as well as the 15th anniversary of the founding of the ACC. The ACC has remained committed to implementing the important consensus of leaders and supporting development strategies of both sides. The ACC has carried out extensive work across five pillars: policy alignment, trade and investment, education, culture and tourism, as well as media and publicity. Meanwhile, the ACC has also proactively explored new cooperation avenues including smart agriculture, innovative economy and green transition. Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the ASEAN Declaration, and will also be the concluding year for the APT Cooperation Work Plan. The ACC stands ready to continue serving as a bridge, advancing communication and collaboration under the APT framework, pooling strengths from all parties, and elevating high-quality regional cooperation to new heights.
Kunihiko Hirabayashi noted that the AJC, guided by such framework documents as the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, has formulated AJC 5.5 (Strategic Plan 2026–2030). The AJC 5.5 focuses on five emerging economies as enablers: digital economy, green and blue economy, creative economy, nature‑positive economy through nature‑based solutions, and wellness economy. It seeks to achieve five goals: inclusive, resilient, and sustainable trade, sustainable impact investment, sustainable and responsible tourism, leadership and people exchange, as well as advocacy, communication and partnership for change. The AJC has pragmatically rolled out a range of initiatives including investment roadshow, MSMEs capacity‑building empowering programmes, sustainable tourism best practices knowledge sharing, exhibitions, and 2026 ASEAN Awareness Survey in Japan.
Kim Jae-shin stated that the partnership among the three Centres continues to deepen, with the importance of synergistic collaboration growing increasingly prominent. The AKC has facilitated matchmaking and cooperation between various sectors of the ROK and their ASEAN counterparts, deepening practical exchanges across all fields. It has delivered a series of initiatives including the ASEAN Entrepreneurs Award, the Connectivity Forum, the Youth Startup Lab, ASEAN Culture and Tourism related activities, and 3 ASEAN Hall exhibitions. It has also steadily deepened high‑level engagements with Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor‑Leste and other countries. Furthermore, the AKC has incorporated the ASEAN+3 Youth Retreat session within the framework of this meeting, to further strengthen youth cooperation bonds under the APT framework.
The Youth Retreat centered on a project proposal aimed at enhancing ASEAN+3 cooperation. The three Centres also introduced their work and the APT cooperation mechanisms to the youth participants. The three outstanding teams selected as winners will undertake study trips to China, Japan, and Indonesia respectively.
Zhang Lizhong remarked at the awarding ceremony that this retreat has deepened the youth’s understanding of ASEAN+3 cooperation and helped the three Centres better understand the aspirations and needs of young people, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of trilateral cooperation. He encouraged the youth to integrate their personal aspirations into the broader journey of the times, and to become guardians of friendship, promoters of culture, and pioneers of innovation between ASEAN, China, Japan, and the ROK.
Prior to the meeting, the three Secretaries General paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Gyeongju, exchanging views on the city’s successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the historical preservation and modern development of the millennium-old city, the deep historical ties and people-to-people exchanges in East Asia, and the enhancement of cooperation between the three Centres and local governments.
