Seoul (VNA) – Vietnam will work with other member nations of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to develop the strategic partnership betweenthe bloc and the Republic of Korea (RoK) in a more comprehensive manner.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung madethe statement at the 22nd dialoguebetween ASEAN and the RoK in Seoul on June 20-21, which is held annually to promotebilateral cooperation and discuss regional and international issues of mutualconcern.

The Vietnamese diplomat welcomed the NewSouthern Policy of the RoK, stressing that the RoK is one of the closest and mostimportant partners of ASEAN.

He called on the RoK to coordinate with ASEAN topromote peace, stability and prosperity while building an open and rule-basedarchitecture in Asia-Pacific.

At the dialogue, ASEAN and the RoK reiteratedtheir commitments to deepening the strategic partnership.

The participating countries welcomed the NewSouthern Policy announced by President Moon Jae-in at the 19th ASEAN-RoK Summitin late 2017 to strengthen ties with ASEAN, and hoped to join the RoK to meettargets in this policy.

The RoK highlighted ASEAN as one of its most importantpartners in the south, due to the long-standing cultural connectivity betweenthe two sides’ people.

As of 2017, ASEAN was the second largest tradingpartner and investor of the RoK. Close to 6.5 million Korean tourists visitedASEAN countries in the year.

Meanwhile,the RoK was the fifth biggest trade partner and investor of ASEAN. Two-waytrade reached 150 billion USD, a figure expected to hit 200 billion USD by2020. 

Cooperation between ASEAN and the RoK has been promoted across three pillars:politics-security, economy and people-to-people exchanges. 

The two sides agreed to boost the implementationof the 2016-2020 action plan to realise the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Republicof Korea Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity.

They will host activities in celebration of the30th founding anniversary of the dialogue relations in 2019.

The RoK informed that it will carry outprogrammes and cooperation activities with ASEAN countries such as theconference connecting small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the sixthASEAN Connectivity Forum, investment promotion activities and events promotingASEAN tourism and culture along with people-to-people exchanges.

The RoK affirmed its support for ASEAN SmartCities Network, a priority initiative of the bloc in 2018, and to strengthencoordination activities to share experience with ASEAN in renovation, digitaleconomy, green and environmentally-friendly technology.

The country also advocated the central role ofASEAN in the region and vowed to make contributions to promoting dialogue andcollaboration for regional peace and stability through ASEAN-led mechanismssuch as ASEAN 3, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting(ADMM ) and East Asia Summit (EAS).

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation incoping with non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism,transnational crimes and cyber crimes.

On regional security issues, ASEAN welcomed thepositive developments in the Korean Peninsula, particularly the significanthistorical outcomes of inter-Korean summit and the summit between theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the US.

The RoK hoped ASEAN will play a more active rolein the peace process and denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula. 

The country reiterated its consistent viewpointof supporting the maintenance of peace, stability, security and freedom of navigationand aviation in the East Sea as well as addressing disputes via peace and exercisingrestraint without complicating the situation and militarisation and withrespect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea.

Founded in 1967, the 10-member ASEANgroups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA