ROK reaffirms commitment to strengthen partnership with ASEAN

Source:  ASEAN Secretariat

JAKARTA, 9 April 2018 – Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Kang Kyung-wha reaffirmed ROK’s strong commitment to further strengthen its strategic partnership with ASEAN during her visit to the ASEAN Secretariat yesterday.

Minister Kang met with the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi and underlined ROK’s commitment to strengthen its partnership and cooperation with ASEAN as part of the New Southern Policy announced by President Moon Jae-in in 2017. She also conveyed ROK’s continued support for ASEAN Community building, and ASEAN’s central role in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Secretary-General Dato Lim underscored the importance of the ASEAN-ROK partnership in support of ASEAN Community building. He welcomed the ROK’s plan to double its contribution to the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund this year to support more cooperation programmes and projects, and the strengthening of the ROK Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta to facilitate closer engagement with the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN sectoral bodies.

Foreign Minister Kang expressed ROK’s willingness to enhance cooperation with ASEAN in areas of shared interest such as digital economy, cyber security, disaster management and humanitarian assistance.

Both sides stressed the significance of this year as the 30^th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations, with a series of activities planned to celebrate the milestone. Dato Lim welcomed ROK’s hosting of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit which is set to take place on 25-26 November in Busan and assured the ASEAN Secretariat’s full support in preparing for the substantive and meaningful outcomes of the Commemorative Summit to further advance relations.

To date, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is the highest-ranking official of the ROK to visit the ASEAN Secretariat.

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