Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republicof Korea (RoK) said on February 19 that it has decided to resume talks on the signingof the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Indonesia aftera hiatus of five years.
Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong met his Indonesiancounterpart Enggartiasto Lukita in Jakarta, and the two sides will resume talksto accelerate the signing.
While the RoK clinched a free-trade agreement with the Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2007, Seoul started discussions onsigning a separate agreement with Indonesia starting 2012 to forge deeper tiesand meet specific needs between the two countries.
The discussion, however, did not make significant progress, withthe last meeting being held in February 2014 without any follow-up measures.
The issue emerged again when Indonesian President Joko Widodovisited the RoK in September last year and met President Moon Jae-in, with thetwo leaders acknowledging the importance of resuming the CEPA talks.
Minister Kim said the CEPA will help Seoul and Jakarta expandexchanges and ties, claiming the two sides will aim to clinch a mutuallybeneficial agreement that encompasses trade, investment, and economiccooperation.
The ministry plans to complete the negotiation within this year.-VNA
