From October 22 to October 25, 2025, the 18th China-Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Forum was successfully held in Wakayama, Japan. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Japan Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research, and the South Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Conference. Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Kazuki Sawa, President of the Japan Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research; and Chung Ku-chong, Chairman of the South Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Conference, attended the event and delivered remarks. Miyazaki Izumi, Governor of Wakayama Prefecture; Inuzuka Yasushi, Deputy Mayor of Wakayama City and other participants, were present at the event.
The theme of this forum was "Enhancing Cultural Exchange through Film and Animation." Nearly 50 representatives, including related experts, enterprises, and cultural organizations from China, Japan, and the ROK, attended the forum and related activities.
(From left to right: Vice President Yuan Mindao, President Sawaki Kazuki, Chairman Jeong Koo-jong)
Vice President Yuan Mindao emphasized that hosting this forum was a concrete step toward implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the three countries. It holds great significance in enhancing mutual understanding and trust, enriching practical cooperation in various fields, and achieving new outcomes that benefit the peoples of China, Japan, and South Korea. He pointed out that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, with an international landscape that is increasingly complex and unpredictable. In this context, China, Japan, and South Korea should join hands in promoting peaceful development, mutual benefits, and sustainable growth. Vice President Yuan expressed confidence that the successful hosting of this forum would contribute unique people-to-people wisdom and efforts toward building an East Asian community with a shared future.
President Sawaki Kazuki noted that film and animation have become integral to cultural exchanges between China, Japan, and South Korea. With the advent and application of new technologies, the potential for expanding the field of animation has greatly increased. He hopes the three countries will deepen exchanges on topics such as the application of AI technology and talent development, thus promoting further exchange and cooperation and fostering stronger mutual understanding and affinity among the peoples of the three countries.
Chairman Jeong Koo-jong emphasized that China, Japan, and South Korea are all East Asian countries with close ties and rich cultural resources, which offer vast space and rare opportunities for cooperation in the fields of film and animation. He expressed hope that the three countries would strengthen collaboration in joint animation creation, production, and distribution, accelerating the industry's upgrading and internationalization to enhance its global competitiveness and influence. This would contribute to fostering the friendly relations and cooperation between the three countries and promoting regional peace and development.
Governor Miyazaki Izumi congratulated the successful hosting of the forum and pointed out the profound changes in the current international situation. He noted that both China and South Korea are vital neighboring countries for Japan, and active cultural exchanges are crucial for maintaining strong ties. He affirmed that Wakayama Prefecture would leverage its sister-city partnerships to actively support cultural exchanges and cooperation among the three countries.
Deputy Mayor Inuzuka Yasushi remarked that animation has the unique power to transcend language and national boundaries, directly touching the hearts of people. He expressed his belief that strengthening exchanges in animation and other fields between China, Japan, and South Korea would play an essential role in nurturing friendly relations among the younger generations of the three countries.
(Experts from China, Japan, and South Korea deliver keynote speeches. From top to bottom: Associate Professor Duan Wenkai, Professor Okamoto Mitsuko, Professor Lee Tingmin)
During the forum, experts from China, Japan, and South Korea engaged in in-depth discussions on the forum theme. Duan Wenkai, Associate Professor at the School of Animation and Digital Arts at Communication University of China; Mitsuko Okamoto, Professor at the Graduate School of Film and New Media at Tokyo University of the Arts; and Lee Ting-min, Professor of Animation at the Film School of Korea National University of Arts, delivered keynote speeches on topics such as AI applications in animation, talent development, and China-Japan-South Korea cooperation. The event also featured animation works from the three countries, showcasing their respective cultural characteristics. The Wakayama Children's Choir performed the forum's theme song, "We Are the Future", in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
(Wakayama Children's Choir performs the forum theme song "We Are the Future")
