Trilateral seminar urges youth to play bigger role in tackling water challenges

Officials from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have committed to enhancing cooperation in tackling water-related challenges brought on by climate change, with the goal of utilizing regional expertise to propel global efforts.

They made the remarks as they gathered recently in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, for the China-Japan-ROK Water Youth Exchange Seminar. The seminar is themed "Water Security Under Multiple Challenges".

"Among the many challenges our region faces, water security remains one of the most urgent," said Lee Hee-sup, secretary general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, addressing the opening ceremony for the event.

The Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, established in Seoul in 2011, is an international organization dedicated to promoting lasting peace, common prosperity, and a shared identity among China, Japan and ROK.

The impact of climate change has intensified droughts, floods and water-related disasters. These issues transcend national borders and demand joint responses. Therefore, sustainable water management is not only a domestic priority but a regional imperative, he stressed.

Lee recalled the significant progress the three countries have made in promoting joint efforts to improve water security.

At the 9th Trilateral Summit held in Seoul in May 2024, for example, the leaders of the three nations reaffirmed their commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and emphasized the importance of climate change response and regional environmental cooperation, he said.

The summit also highlighted the need to foster exchanges between future generations and to pursue mutually beneficial initiatives that create tangible outcomes for the peoples, he added.

Maruyama Kazuki, a division director with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, underscored water-related disasters as the type of natural disasters that claims the highest number of victims.

Due to climate change, rapid urbanization, demographic change and financial crisis, he said the three countries are facing exacerbated water risks, such as floods, droughts, typhoon and rise in sea levels.

"In order to address those risks, it is important to strengthen relationship among China, Japan and Republic of Korea and cooperate on initiatives related to the management of rivers and water resources. This will help solve water issues not only in the three countries but also in other areas," he stressed.

Hao Zhao, director general of the International Economic and Technical Cooperation and Exchange Center, an affiliate of China's Ministry of Water Resources, expressed his sincere hope of seeing young people from the three countries play a bigger role in beefing up cooperation over water resources management.

"In the face of global challenges such as frequent extreme weather events, floods and droughts, and water ecosystem degradation, I hope young people from our three countries can continue to deepen exchanges, strengthen cooperation, explore innovative water governance models empowered by digital and intelligent technologies and contribute your wisdom to the high-quality development of water resources," he said.

Hao said he looks forward to the establishment of a mechanism to facilitate regular water resources-themed dialogues and exchanges among young people from the three countries, so as to make positive contributions to addressing regional and even global water challenges.

Lee Seung-hwan, a director general with ROK's Ministry of Environment, said, "Moving forward, I sincerely hope that the Water Youth Exchange Seminars will continue to be held regularly, serving as a bridge for Asian young water professionals to have their voices heard at major international platforms, such as the third UN Water Conference in 2026 and the 11th World Water Forum in 2027."