BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei ― President Park Geun-hye will host a “special” summit with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year in celebration of 25 years of their diplomatic ties, Seoul officials said Monday.

The decision was made at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Sunday. The 10-nation bloc normally hosts a summit with Korea every year.

“The event will provide a chance to expand and deepen the Korea-ASEAN relations and strengthen political and security cooperation in particular,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Along with China and Japan, Korea is one of the group’s major partners and participants in ASEAN-led multinational gatherings including the ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN Regional Forum. Seoul opened the ASEAN-Korean Center in 2009 and a mission to ASEAN in Jakarta last October.

The two sides forged a “sectoral” dialogue partnership in 1989 and continued to advance the bilateral ties, forging a strategic partnership in 2010.

ASEAN is Seoul’s second-biggest trade partner after China, with two-way shipment volume surpassing $130 billion last year. Korean builders secured $11 billion worth of contracts in the region in 2012 alone.

North Korea, which has diplomatic relations with all 10 member nations, also participates in the ASEAN Regional Forum.

By Shin Hyon-hee, Korea Herald correspondent  
(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)