ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have spoken highly of their partnership and cooperation despite the COVID-19 crisis.
The appreciation was made during the 22nd ASEAN-ROK Summit held this afternoon via videoconference under the chairmanship of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei with the participation of ROK President H.E. Moon Jae-in, and all ASEAN Heads of State/Government, including Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen of Cambodia, except the Myanmar leader, H.E. Kao Kim Hourn, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister, told reporters after the summit.
ROK remain a major trade partner of ASEAN, i.e. the 4th largest trade partner and 5th largest source of FDI inflows with over US$150 billion and US$6.8 billion, respectively, he added.
Both sides were also committed to further boost their economic, investment and trade ties, especially for the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in 2022, as well as to increase free trade agreements between ASEAN and ROK, he said, stressing that Cambodia and ROK signed their bilateral FTA this morning.
According to H.E. Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN leaders thanked ROK for its active support for the fight against COVID-19 while ROK pledged to continue supporting ASEAN Community building, integration, development gap minimising, and connectivity, particularly the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plans III & IV.
The ASEAN and ROK Leaders welcomed the new mechanism, at the ministerial level, to boost disaster management cooperation.
ROK will continue to support ASEAN’s core role and unity and help promote digital and green economy.
Besides, both parties exchanged views on regional issues of common interest.
ASEAN and ROK leaders adopted the Joint Statement of the 22nd ASEAN-ROK Summit and approved the progress report on implementation of ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Vision Statement on Peace, Prosperity and Partnership (2021-2025), progress report on implementation of ASEAN-ROK FTA, and progress report on ASEAN-ROK economic cooperation project.
