At the meeting with the Committee of Permanent Representative (CPR) to ASEAN(23/07) in Seoul, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea, Kim-Sung Hwan, underlined the important role of ASEAN as a strategic partner for South Korea.
According to the minister, there are still many uncovered potentials that can improve the ASEAM-Republic of Korea partnership. One of the most promising potentials can be unlocked through the implementation of Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.
“We have appointed our Ambassador to ASEAN in Jakarta in order for us to establish a Task Force soon so that we can coordinate with the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC)”, said Minister Kim to ASEAN ambassadors.
The cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea, according to Kim-Sung Hwan, has provided plenty of opportunity and mutual benefit for both parties. This can be seen from the ASEAN-RoK reciprocal trade value in 2011, which experienced significant increase (26.6%) and amounted to USD 124.4 billion.
Statistically, South Korea is the fifth biggest trading partner for ASEAN. On the other hand, ASEAN is the second largest trading partner for South Korea.
In addition to meeting with Minister Kim-Sung Hwan, CPR, which comprised ASEAN ambassadors in Jakarta, also had the opportunity to conduct a series of meeting with the Secretary General of Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, the Secretary General of ASEAN-Korea Centre, the Secretary General of Trilateral Summit secretariat, and South Korean business people engaged in private sectors.
In the meeting with the Secretary General of Trilateral Summit secretariat, CPR has agreed to the proposal to explore the cooperation between the Secretariat of theTrilateral Summit and the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
Accompanied by the Secretary General of ASEAN-Korea Centre, CPR also had the chance to visit the ASEAN-Korea Centre, which was established in 2009. Until today, the centre has conducted 20 promotional activities in South Korea as well as provided a special room for displaying cultural products of ASEAN. (Source: Indonesian Permanent Mission to ASEAN/Ed.PY/ Trans. Loyz.D)