S. Korea to support 'logistical hub' campaign of Laos

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday his country will help Laos achieve its goal of becoming a "transportation and logistical hub" in the region.He made the commitment in bilateral talks with Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Busan, some 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The prime minister was on a visit to the port city for the ASEAN-Republic of Korea special summit to mark the 30th anniversary of their dialogue relationship. They had a broad range of discussio

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Korea, ASEAN adopt joint vision for cooperation

BUSAN – The ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit wrapped up Tuesday with the leaders agreeing to expand economic, political and social cooperation among the countries.  “Advancement of the ASEAN is Korea’s advancement. Cooperating over the past 30 years through friendship and trust, we have shown ‘potential of Asia,’ overcoming financial and foreign exchange crises,” President Moon Jae-in said ahead of announcing the joint press statement. “Now, we have t

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] [Herald Interview] Mekong-ROK Summit will improve living standards in Mekong region: Laotian PM

The first Mekong-Korea Summit will kick off Wednesday in Busan following the conclusion of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit as part of Seoul’s drive to diversify diplomatic and economic channels, reducing reliance on traditional partners.Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said the Mekong-Korea summit will contribute to advancing the living standards of countries in the Mekong region. “This (Mekong-Korea summit) will be an opportunity to advance future cooperat

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Civic participation, digital tech key topics at public service minister meeting

BUSAN -- South Korea and Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries discussed ways to enhance civic participation in policymaking and to foster innovation for public services Tuesday. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety hosted the Ministerial Roundtable on Public Service Innovation on the sidelines of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan. The ministers in charge of public service innovation in Korea and ASEAN member states gathered for the discussions under the theme

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] [Herald Interview] ‘Hanoi to focus on unifying ASEAN in 2020’: Vietnamese PM

Less than a month before Hanoi assumes chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said forming a unified stance for the regional bloc on global issues is at the top of its agenda.Seeking to bring together ASEAN countries, Vietnam has set forth “Cohesive and Responsive” as the theme of its ASEAN chairmanship, effective Jan. 1, 2020.“ASEAN will unite under this theme and actively contribute to global peace and sustainabi

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Exhibition showcases public service innovations in Korea, ASEAN nations

BUSAN -- An exhibition in Busan on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit demonstrates how the governments of South Korea and the ASEAN member states are sharing their know-how in the area of public service.The “ASEAN-ROK Exhibition on Public Service Innovation” opened Monday at Bexco Exhibition Center 2 and continues through Wednesday. The event comprises a Korean pavilion, which demonstrates Korea’s innovative tech-based public service systems; and an ASEAN pavil

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Co-chair’s statement of the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit

“Partnership for Peace, Prosperity for People”1. The ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Commemorative Summit was held on 26 November 2019 in Busan, the ROK. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and H.E. Moon Jae-in, President of the ROK, and attended by Heads of State/Government of ASEAN Member States. The Secretary-General of ASEAN was also in attendance.2. We welcomed the significant progress of ASEAN-ROK relatio

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea Summit] Korea, ASEAN adopt vision for ‘peace, prosperity and partnership’

BUSAN -- South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday adopted a vision statement stipulating that they will cooperate to build a “people-centered community of peace and prosperity.”The statement, titled “ASEAN-Republic of Korea Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and Partnership,” was adopted at the first session of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan. According to Cheong Wa Dae, the statement contains “the v

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] ASEAN-Republic of Korea Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and Partnership

We, the Heads of State/Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), gathered on 26 November 2019 in Busan, the ROK, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations;Expressing satisfaction with the positive development of ASEAN-ROK relations over the past 30 years since the establishment of Dialogue Relations in 1989; Acknowledging the ROK’s New Southern Policy which aims to further strengthen and

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Korea, ASEAN must work together to face new challenges: Moon

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called for stronger cooperation among South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, saying the 21st century is the “era of Asia.”Addressing the leaders of ASEAN attending the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan, Moon urged closer cooperation and solidarity among the 11 nations in facing global issues.  “We face new challenges such as protectionism and cross-border crime, (as well as the) fourth industrial revolu

Nov. 26, 2019

Ambassador hopes GSOMIA decision helps strengthen S. Korea-US ties

WASHINGTON -- South Korea's ambassador to the United States voiced hope Monday that Seoul's decision to tentatively extend a military information-sharing pact with Japan will bolster its ties with Washington.Ambassador Lee Soo-hyuck was referring to Seoul's decision last week to postpone the termination of the General Security of Military Information Agreement following Tokyo's willingness to hold working-level talks on each country's export control measures.Washington had pressed both of its al

Nov. 26, 2019

US senators remind Moon, Abe of importance of trilateral cooperation

WASHINGTON -- A group of 40 US senators sent a letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week, underscoring the importance of trilateral cooperation in the face of rising challenges posed by North Korea and China.The letter, dated Thursday, was sent before a military intelligence-sharing pact between Seoul and Japan was set to expire at midnight Friday.South Korea later postponed the termination of the General Security of Military Information Agreem

Nov. 26, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Korea, Philippines to speed up FTA talks

BUSAN -- South Korea and the Philippines on Monday signed an agreement opening their markets for selected products and resolved to conclude free trade negotiations within next year.  The agreement was signed after President Moon Jae-in and President Rodrigo Duterte’s summit on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan. Under the trade agreement, the Philippines will open its markets for selected automotive parts, pharmaceuticals and petrochemical products. In return

Nov. 25, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Korea, ASEAN leaders highlight cooperation

BUSAN – South Korea and Indonesia on Monday issued a joint declaration announcing the successful end of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement negotiations. The declaration was adopted after President Moon Jae-in’s bilateral summit with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit that kicked off in Busan. The Korea-Indonesia CEPA negotations were effectively wrapped up in October, and the two sides have since been working o

Nov. 25, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea Summit] Korea, Thailand seek closer ties in broader range of areas

President Moon Jae-in and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha held a summit Monday, seeking closer cooperation between the two countries. At the meeting, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan, Moon stressed the importance of South Korean-Thai relations and thanked the Thai prime minister for his support in advancing Korea’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “Thailand is the most important partner in our government’s New

Nov. 25, 2019

Cheong Wa Dae: Japan apologized for 'distorted' GSOMIA deal announcement

BUSAN -- The office of President Moon Jae-in stressed Monday that Japan has apologized to South Korea for a controversy over its announcement on an agreement related to the suspension of Seoul's decision to end a bilateral military intelligence-sharing accord.Cheong Wa Dae was defending itself from criticism that it has made unilateral concessions to Japan apparently in a bid to avoid an impact to the Seoul-Washington alliance.Making public its decision to conditionally and temporarily extend GS

Nov. 25, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] S. Korea-ASEAN summit to open in Busan, prologue to 'New Southern Policy 2.0'

BUSAN -- A special group summit between South Korea and the 10 Southeast Asian nations will get under way in Busan on Monday, which Seoul views as another milestone in bilateral partnerships amid its signature New Southern Policy.President Moon Jae-in has invited the leaders of the ASEAN member states to the two-day event in Busan, his hometown, meant to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their dialogue relationship.Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has canceled his plan to attend it, saying his m

Nov. 25, 2019

FM says Busan summit to elevate S. Korea-ASEAN ties to another level

BUSAN -- The South Korea-ASEAN summit will serve as a venue for the participating countries to further elevate their relations to another level for the next few decades and beyond, South Korea's top diplomat said Sunday. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha made the remark ahead of the official opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit slated for Monday. "The 30-year-old Korea-ASEAN relationship is at another point of a grand transition

Nov. 24, 2019

Top Seoul official warns Japan against provocations over trade, GSOMIA

BUSAN -- Japan should refrain from provoking South Korea over the trade and military information sharing agreement, a high-level government official said Sunday. Chung Eui-yong, Seoul's national security office chief, also said that Seoul lodged a firm complaint over Japanese government’s announcement on Friday, and said that Tokyo offered an apology and confirmed that the Seoul-Tokyo agreement remains the same. Chung went on to issue a warning to Tokyo saying that he would like to say &ld

Nov. 24, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] [Contribution] 30 years of ASEAN-Korea partnership: From prosperity to peace with people

The third ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit is being held from Monday to Wednesday this week in Busan. The summit of national leaders of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South Korea celebrates the 30th anniversary of a partnership between the ASEAN bloc and Korea. Korea is the first dialogue partner of ASEAN to hold a special summit three times. It is a chance for leaders to review the past achievements of the ASEAN-Korea partnership and to envision the future of the bilateral re

Nov. 24, 2019