Opportunities for U.S.-China-Korea Cooperation

On February 17, the Belfer Center co-convened the inaugural round of the “Trilateral Dialogue: Opportunities and Challenges for U.S.-China-Korea Cooperation” in Seoul, South Korea. Hosted by the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS), the international conference also included a delegation from China’s Peking University’s School of International Studies (SIS). The 18 international relations experts exchanged perspectives on U.S.-China relations in transition, efforts to denuclearize North Korea under the new United States administration, and the new economic and trade order in East Asia.  

KFAS President In-kook Park gave welcoming remarks. KFAS Chairman Chey Tae-won, First Vice Minister Lim Sung-nam (Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Executive Director for Research Gary Samore (Belfer Center), and Dean Jia Qingguo (SIS) gave keynote remarks.

In his address, First Vice Minister Lim stated that all three countries are undergoing political changes domestically while facing external challenges such as North Korean nuclear provocations and reconsiderations about free trade arrangements. “At this critical juncture,” he remarked, “platforms for exchanging ideas, such as the Trilateral Dialogue, are essential for transforming challenges into opportunities.”

The Belfer Center-led U.S. delegation also included Victor Cha (Center for Strategic & International Studies), Evan Feigenbaum (Paulson Institute), Douglas Paal (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), and the Belfer Center’s John Park and William Tobey.

The partner organizations will convene the next round of the Trilateral Dialogue later in 2017.