The Mansfield Foundation-CIIS Forum on Northeast Asia Cooperation is a core group of opinion leaders and experts from the United States, Japan, and China, which meets regularly to discuss issues of energy and the environment—areas where overlapping interests abound and cooperation is possible, and which are tied to the stability and prosperity of the region as a whole. In essence, the Forum seeks creative solutions to shared energy and environment challenges while using the functional discussion to build rapport and establish a problem-solving network of influential people.
The initial phase of the Forum met in Montana in 2016, Beijing in 2019, and Hawaii in 2022. A second phase of the program is currently active in coordinating multinational efforts in addressing energy transitions in Southeast Asia.
Forum Beliefs:
The CIIS-Mansfield Forum was convened out of our belief that China, Japan, and the United States have many common interests, and there exists great potential to foster cooperation on issues of tremendous importance to the preservation of peace and security in Northeast Asia.
Working together on issues of common concern – such as nuclear safety and security and climate change – is a good way to forge new relationships, enhance mutual trust, and make new friends.
Climate change poses a serious threat to peace and security in Northeast Asia, and China, Japan, and the United States have a common stake in the success of global efforts to slow global warming by reducing their consumption of fossil fuels and other measures.
While the members of the Forum hold a variety of views on the use of nuclear power, we agree that China, Japan, and the United States all have a deep stake in the future of nuclear power and the safeguarding of nuclear materials. At present, nuclear safety practices and security measures are not harmonized. We should cooperate with each other and share valuable “lessons learned” to promote best practices and advance our mutual interests on all aspects of nuclear power, from construction to operations to decommissioning.