Seoul (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened an ASEAN-RoK Dialogue in Seoul on July 7 to review the implementation of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and discuss measures to expand cooperation in politics, security, the economy, and regional issues of mutual concern.
The annual dialogue brought together Korean Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-hye and representatives from the 11 member states of ASEAN. The meeting came ahead of the ASEAN-related foreign ministerial meetings, scheduled to take place in Manila, the Philippines, later this month, according to the RoK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Participants reviewed progress in implementing plans to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two sides and discussed ways to expand cooperation.
The Korean side introduced initiatives of the administration of President Lee Jae Myung aimed at sharing artificial intelligence (AI) innovation capabilities with ASEAN to promote sustainable growth. It also proposed expanding cooperation in culture and creative industries by building on the global popularity of the Korean Wave.
Seoul called for closer coordination with ASEAN to implement new cooperative initiatives, including a project to combat transnational online scam networks and the Korea-ASEAN Maritime Safety Academy project.
The participants also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the developments in the East Sea, and the Myanmar issue.
The RoK reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing a Korean Peninsula where the two Koreas can coexist peacefully and prosper together, and shared prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, and expressed hope for continued close cooperation with ASEAN to promote sustainable peace and stability in the region, the ministry said in a press release.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings are scheduled to be held in Manila from July 21. The RoK is to take part in related meetings, including the ASEAN-RoK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum, where participants will discuss regional security issues and ways to advance practical cooperation.
ASEAN and the RoK elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the ASEAN-RoK Summit in Laos in October 2024 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of dialogue relations. The upgraded partnership has provided a broader framework for cooperation in trade, investment, digital transformation, innovation, security, climate change response and people-to-people exchanges, underscoring ASEAN’s growing importance in the RoK’s foreign policy and the country’s expanding role in cooperation with Southeast Asia./.
