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Shigeo Iwatani |
Shigeo Iwatani, a former Japanese ambassador to Austria and Kenya, has been named the new secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat of Korea, China and Japan, the agency said Tuesday.
The three countries set up the organization in May 2011 to facilitate and document their summits and other key tripartite dialogues, devise joint projects and conduct related research.
Iwatani will begin his two-year term on Sept. 1, replacing Shin Bong-kil, the TCS’ inaugural chief and Korea’s former ambassador to Jordan, who is expected to return to the Foreign Ministry.
He will be aided by two new deputy secretary generals: Lee Jong-heon, a former minister-counselor at the Korean Embassies in Germany and Angola, and Chen Feng, a former deputy director and director for South Asian affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
A 62-year-old career diplomat, Iwatani has undertaken various core posts including consul-general in Honolulu, embassy minister in Berlin, and director for abandoned chemical weapons at the Cabinet Office.
By Shin Hyon-hee (
heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
