The first meeting of sports ministers from Korea, China and Japan is held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, over two days from Sept. 22 to 23.
The first meeting of sports ministers from Korea, China and Japan, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, wrapped up after two days of meetings in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on Sept. 22 and 23.
This is the first trilateral summit to follow from the Joint Declaration for Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia that was suggested by Korea in November 2015. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoonsun, Director Liu Peng of the Chinese State General Administration of Sports and Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Matsuno Hirokazu attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the dignitaries signed the Pyeongchang Declaration, pledging to further develop a future-oriented trilateral partnership. The Pyeongchang Declaration calls for peace across Northeast Asia to be achieved through sports, the exchange and cooperation between successful Olympic and Paralympic organizing committees, social development throughout sports, developing the various sports industries and cooperation on anti-doping measures.
Director Liu Peng (left) of the Chinese State General Administration of Sports, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoonsun (second from left), President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach (third from left) and Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Matsuno Hirokazu pose for a picture after adopting the Pyeongchang Declaration during the first meeting of sports ministers from Korea, China and Japan.
The ministers agreed to exchanges between experts and the sharing of organizational tips to successfully host Olympic and Paralympic Games, while jointly developing Olympic legacies that would help sustainable development in the three nations and further contribute to the betterment of humanity. They agreed to overcome tensions between the three governments and to promote mutual prosperity, as the three countries form a pivotal part of the world, so that Northeast Asia could play a central role in the development of world peace.
In addition to this, the ministers agreed to work on eradicating doping, as all three nations are members of the World Anti-Doping Agency. To prevent doping, which harms the basic tenets of fair play that encompass sports and athletes’ health, they agreed to serve as good examples of a doping-clean region through diversified cooperation measures, including resource exchanges and technological exchanges.
The first meeting of sports ministers from Korea, China and Japan is held in Korea on Sept. 22 and 23.
Minister Cho said in her keynote address that, “As some of Earth’s longest neighbors, Korea, China and Japan have each developed a brilliant and different civilization based on common philosophical and cultural grounds.” She said that her hope was that this meeting would “be the foundation for the success of Olympic Games that will be organized in the three countries and further creatively draw upon the universality and distinct characteristics of the three nations.” She said that this meeting would be the starting line for future visions that can contribute to mutual prosperity of all three nations and to humanity itself.
At the Korea-China bilateral ministerial meeting that was held on Sept. 22, Seoul and Beijing agreed to expand sporting events as part of efforts to improve athletes’ performances prior to the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Winter Games, while agreeing upon a celebratory event to mark 20 years of Korea-China day-to-day sports exchanges in the run-up to 2020. During the Korea-Japan bilateral meeting, Seoul and Tokyo agreed to share organizational knowhow for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games, while expanding senior citizen sport exchanges in light of having aging societies.
Finally, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach visited Pyeongchang during the two-day meeting to celebrate trilateral cooperation and to promote the better organizing of Olympic Games. During his visit, he also reviewed preparations for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
By Wi Tack-whan, Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon Han, Korea.net Photographer
whan23@korea.kr
