Hanoi (VNA) -Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) LimJock Hoi and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Kang Kyung-wha hadphone talks on June 15 to discuss ways to boost cooperation amid the COVID-19pandemic.
During the talks, Minister Kang said the RoK is looking into measures that wouldallow special entry of businesspeople from ASEAN member states to enableessential economic activities.
Regarding the RoK’s COVID-19 outbreak and its continuedquarantine efforts, she called for the ASEAN secretariat to take an active rolein uniting the will and capabilities of ASEAN nations to overcome the pandemic.
According to the minister, expanding cooperation with ASEAN in health-relatedfields will be a key topic for the RoK, in line with its New Southern Policy, asignature initiative being pushed for by President Moon Jae-in's government todeepen ties with Southeast Asian partners.
The ASEAN chief, for his part, agreed that ASEAN and the RoK shouldcontinue to work closely together to help boost economies hurt by the disease.
Heexpressed his thanks for the RoK's 5-million-USD assistance to the bloc’s membercountries via a cooperation fund to provide COVID-19 test kits and protectivegear./.
VNA