RoK cements ASEAN ties with clear vision, policy initiative
The Republic of Korea (RoK) pledges to cement ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with a clear vision, resources and concrete action plans, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu told Yonhap News Agency in a recent interview.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu (Source: Yonhap News Agency)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea(RoK) pledges to cement ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) with a clear vision, resources and concrete action plans, DeputyForeign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu told Yonhap News Agency ina recent interview.
He said central to that commitment is Seoul'sNew Southern Policy that it has forged ahead with the installation of a specialpresidential panel and a foreign ministry bureau solely for ASEAN affairs, andsharp increases in related projects, staff and funding.
The initiative is set to gain greater tractionin November when the RoK hosts a commemorative summit with ASEAN in thesoutheastern port city of Busan to mark 30 years since the two sidesestablished bilateral dialogue relations.
"Partnering with ASEAN is not just a matterof choice but a path now clearly presented to us,” Yoon said.
"We are pursuing a mutually beneficialpartnership and co-prosperity, not a one-way street. We have a clear policygoal that seeks a kind of cooperation to contribute to the development ofASEAN," he added.
Over the past two years, the initiative has beenmaking steady progress as evidenced by numerical data.
The number of visitors traveling between the RoKand the ASEAN region surpassed the 10 million mark in 2018. The number of ASEANstudents studying in the RoK amounted to 32,574 last year compared with 19,000recorded in 2017.
Two-way trade reached a record high of 160billion USD in 2018. The two sides have set a goal of increasing the volume to200 billion USD by next year.
The RoK has also doubled a government funddedicated to bolstering cooperation with ASEAN to 14 million USD.-VNA
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The Republic of Korea (RoK) is promoting the signing of customs agreements with Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam to facilitate its trade with the partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
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The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu (Source: Yonhap News Agency) 
