RoK, Mekong nations hold ministerial meeting

The Republic of Korea (RoK) and five nations in the Mekong region held the first-ever ministerial meeting in Seoul on Oct. 28.
The Republic of Korea (RoK) and five nations in the Mekong region heldthe first-ever ministerial meeting in Seoul on Oct. 28.

The meeting was co-chaired by RoK Foreign Minister (FM) Kim Sung-hwanand Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and FM Hor Namhong. The meeting alsosaw the attendance of Vietnamese FM Pham Binh Minh, Lao Deputy PM andFM Thonglouan Sisouthlith, Thai FM Surapong Tovichakchiakul andMyanmar Deputy FM Myo Myint.

The meeting wasdesigned to set up a new cooperation mechanism between the RoK and theMekong region, focusing on economic cooperation and development,political cooperation and the working mechanism of Mekong-RoKcooperation.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese FMPham Binh Minh reiterated Vietnam ’s support for the Mekong-RoKcooperation, expressing his belief that the new cooperation mechanismwould contribute to consolidating the fine relationship between thenations.

He also affirmed that Vietnam willtake an active part and work closely with the member countries inimplementing activities within the Mekong-RoK cooperation framework.

The meeting endorsed the Han River Statement on theestablishment of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership betweenMekong countries and RoK for Common Wealth,” which set out futurecooperation visions and orientations for the concerned countries.

The ministers also agreed to give priority to three cooperative areas,including ASEAN connectivity, sustainable development and developmentfor people.

They also agreed to organise the annualMekong-RoK ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN MinisterialMeeting and in the RoK every three years. The second Mekong-RoKMinisterial Meeting will be held in Cambodia next year.

The same day, FM Pham Binh Minh and the heads of delegation paid a courtesy visit to RoK President Lee Myung-bak.

On the sidelines of the meeting, FM Minh also met with his RoK counterpart Kim Sung-hwan./.

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