US, RoK discuss promoting ties with ASEAN

The Republic of Korea (RoK) and the US held virtual talks on May 13 to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries based on Seoul's New Southern Policy and Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy.

Director General for ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs of the RoK at the talks (Photo: Yonhap)

 

Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) andthe US held virtual talks on May 13 to discuss ways to strengthen cooperationwith Southeast Asian countries based on Seoul's New Southern Policy and Washington'sIndo-Pacific strategy.

The RoK’s Foreign Ministry said the twosides discussed how they can work withthe 10-nation ASEAN for substantive cooperation in seven areas, includinghealth, infrastructure, smart city, green growth and digital innovation.

With respect to the COVID-19 pandemic,they talked about efforts to increase support to help ASEAN countries improvegeneral medical systems to overcome the disease and improve their healthcareservices.

Both sides decided to work closely tohelp businesses discover new opportunities and provide them with financialsupport for joint infrastructure projects in the region.

In the talks, they also sharedassessments and policy directions on the current situations in the bloc.

The meeting is meaningful from lookingat it in the frame of expanding the New Southern Policy and also of promotingthe alliance and bilateral relations with the US, a ministry official said./.

VNA

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