Leaders of ASEAN member nations and the Republic of Korea (RoK) haveapproved a joint statement on the future vision for their strategicpartnership , defining the orientation and specific measures to furtherdeepen the two sides’ ties in all aspects.
The statement wasissued at the end of the ASEAN- RoK Commemorative Summit 2014, whichwas to mark the 25 th anniversary of ASEAN-Republic of KoreaDialogue Relations, which took place in Busan, the RoK, on December12.
Accordingly, the two sides agreed to soon build an actionplan for the 2016-2020 period, and effective implement cooperationprojects in priority fields for mutual benefit.
They willmaximise the benefits of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA)and strive to raise two-way trade to 150 billion USD by 2015 and 200billion USD by 2020. They expressed resolve to, together with partners,conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) agreement by the end of 2015.
At the same time, thetwo sides will enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges to boostmutual understanding along with collaboration in human resourcedevelopment . They also concurred to select 2017 as the ASEAN-RoKcultural exchange year.
Regarding regional security, the twosides agreed to work together in ensuring maritime and aviationsecurity and safety in the region, exercise self-restraint, and settledisputes by peaceful measures without the use of or threat of force inline with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS) and relevant standards and practices of theInternational Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The twosides will promote joint efforts to deal with non-traditional securitychallenges, such as epidemics, environmental pollution and naturaldisasters.
At the summit, ASEAN and RoK leaders sharedassessments about the development and significant achievements in the25-year cooperation as well as their contributions to peace, cooperationand development in the region.
ASEAN leaders hailed theactive cooperation and important help that the RoK gave the bloc inbuilding the ASEAN Community, enhancing connectivity, narrowingdevelopment gap and responding to common challenges in the region.
RoK President Park Geun-Hye reiterated that her country gives highpriority to relations with ASEAN and pledged continued support for ASEANin building the ASEAN Community as well as in carrying out the bloc’spost 2015 vision.
Addressing the summit, Vietnamese PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that the two sides should strengthentheir partnership and mutual support in maintaining regional peace,stability and security through ASEAN- led existing cooperationmechanisms. He said only with mutual trust can the region achievesustainable peace, stability and security in the region.
The PMunderlined that recent complicated developments in the East Sea testifyto the need to maintain peace, stability and maritime security in theregion. He called on all related sides to respect international lawincluding the 1982 UNCLOS, fully abide by the Declaration on the Conductof Parties on the East Sea and strive for an early conclusion of theCode of Conduct of Parties on the East Sea.
Refraining fromthe use of or threat of force as well as acts that might escalatetension would be an important confidence building measure, contributingto ensuring peace, stability and security in the region, PM Nguyen TanDung said.
The ASEAN-RoK relations have seen a strong andfruitful development since they established dialogue partnership in1989. In 2004, the RoK joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC),becoming ASEAN’s comprehensive partnership. The tie was upgraded to theStrategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in 2010. The two sideshave been deploying effectively their action plans for the 2005-2010 and2011-2015 periods.
The RoK always supports ASEAN’s central roleand joins all cooperation mechanisms and forums initiated by ASEAN inthe region. The country is now one of ASEAN’s leading trade partnerswith two-way trade hitting 135 billion USD in 2013./.
The statement wasissued at the end of the ASEAN- RoK Commemorative Summit 2014, whichwas to mark the 25 th anniversary of ASEAN-Republic of KoreaDialogue Relations, which took place in Busan, the RoK, on December12.
Accordingly, the two sides agreed to soon build an actionplan for the 2016-2020 period, and effective implement cooperationprojects in priority fields for mutual benefit.
They willmaximise the benefits of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA)and strive to raise two-way trade to 150 billion USD by 2015 and 200billion USD by 2020. They expressed resolve to, together with partners,conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) agreement by the end of 2015.
At the same time, thetwo sides will enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges to boostmutual understanding along with collaboration in human resourcedevelopment . They also concurred to select 2017 as the ASEAN-RoKcultural exchange year.
Regarding regional security, the twosides agreed to work together in ensuring maritime and aviationsecurity and safety in the region, exercise self-restraint, and settledisputes by peaceful measures without the use of or threat of force inline with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS) and relevant standards and practices of theInternational Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The twosides will promote joint efforts to deal with non-traditional securitychallenges, such as epidemics, environmental pollution and naturaldisasters.
At the summit, ASEAN and RoK leaders sharedassessments about the development and significant achievements in the25-year cooperation as well as their contributions to peace, cooperationand development in the region.
ASEAN leaders hailed theactive cooperation and important help that the RoK gave the bloc inbuilding the ASEAN Community, enhancing connectivity, narrowingdevelopment gap and responding to common challenges in the region.
RoK President Park Geun-Hye reiterated that her country gives highpriority to relations with ASEAN and pledged continued support for ASEANin building the ASEAN Community as well as in carrying out the bloc’spost 2015 vision.
Addressing the summit, Vietnamese PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that the two sides should strengthentheir partnership and mutual support in maintaining regional peace,stability and security through ASEAN- led existing cooperationmechanisms. He said only with mutual trust can the region achievesustainable peace, stability and security in the region.
The PMunderlined that recent complicated developments in the East Sea testifyto the need to maintain peace, stability and maritime security in theregion. He called on all related sides to respect international lawincluding the 1982 UNCLOS, fully abide by the Declaration on the Conductof Parties on the East Sea and strive for an early conclusion of theCode of Conduct of Parties on the East Sea.
Refraining fromthe use of or threat of force as well as acts that might escalatetension would be an important confidence building measure, contributingto ensuring peace, stability and security in the region, PM Nguyen TanDung said.
The ASEAN-RoK relations have seen a strong andfruitful development since they established dialogue partnership in1989. In 2004, the RoK joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC),becoming ASEAN’s comprehensive partnership. The tie was upgraded to theStrategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in 2010. The two sideshave been deploying effectively their action plans for the 2005-2010 and2011-2015 periods.
The RoK always supports ASEAN’s central roleand joins all cooperation mechanisms and forums initiated by ASEAN inthe region. The country is now one of ASEAN’s leading trade partnerswith two-way trade hitting 135 billion USD in 2013./.
