Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: ASEAN and South Korea need to increase contributions to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 26th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

At the Conference, leaders assessed that ASEAN-Korea relations continue to develop dynamically after being upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024. Korea is currently ASEAN's fifth largest trade partner and seventh largest FDI investor, with two-way trade turnover in 2024 reaching 208.2 billion USD and FDI from Korea to ASEAN reaching 7.6 billion USD.

Countries assessed that Korea actively and comprehensively participated in ASEAN's specialized cooperation mechanisms, through the 2021-2025 Action Plan with an implementation rate of 95% of the action lines.

Specific cooperation initiatives such as the ASEAN-Korea Digital Academy and the ASEAN-Korea Digital Innovation Facility (KADIF) help enhance digital capabilities and incubate and nurture digital talent in ASEAN.

Faced with rapid and complex changes in the world and regional situation, the leaders affirmed to strengthen relations, consolidate trust, and increase cooperation for development and the interests of people in the two regions.

Accordingly, ASEAN and Korea will immediately implement the Action Plan for the 2026-2030 period, launch discussions on upgrading the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) in 2026, including adding high-quality cooperation areas such as green economy , digital economy, supply chain linkage, etc.

At the same time, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic areas such as digital transformation, innovation, clean energy, strategic minerals, sustainable environment, maritime security, transnational crime prevention, cyber security, etc.

In his speech, President Lee Jae Myung affirmed that Korea values and supports ASEAN's central role, supports ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and links Korea's future vision with ASEAN's Vision for a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN Community.

Accordingly, the President proposed ASEAN-Korea cooperation on three pillars: “Contributing to Dreams and Hopes; Springboard for Growth and Innovation; Partnership for Peace and Stability”. At the same time, Korea continues to support ASEAN in implementing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, the ASEAN Power Grid, narrowing the development gap and enhancing regional connectivity.

At the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared his assessment that ASEAN-Korea relations have entered a new, more strategic and comprehensive phase; emphasizing that the two sides need to strengthen coordination, promptly and effectively respond to challenges, create a favorable environment for sustainable and inclusive development, beneficial to both sides and actively and effectively contribute to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister outlined three major orientations to promote the ASEAN-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the coming time.

Firstly, prioritize promoting economic, trade and investment linkages in a green, digital, circular and sustainable direction; initiate negotiations to upgrade the AKFTA, and expand cooperation to new areas such as green economy, digital economy, artificial intelligence and supply chains.

The Prime Minister suggested that Korea increase technology transfer, help train high-quality human resources, connect technology enterprises, develop AI in renewable energy, smart infrastructure, and green agriculture; support ASEAN enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to participate in the supply chain; and cooperate in sub-regional development, including the Mekong-Korea cooperation mechanism.

Second , deepen cultural cooperation, education and people-to-people exchange, develop tourism; promote heritage economy, creative industry, cultural connection, develop cultural industry, entertainment industry (film, photo, music); expand talent training programs, vocational education; create more favorable conditions for ASEAN citizens to study and work in Korea.

Third , the Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN and the Republic of Korea need to increase their contributions to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region; ASEAN and the Republic of Korea need to jointly promote interests and responsibilities in building the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam supports the efforts of the Korean government to resume inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation, is ready to actively participate in this process to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous environment on the Korean peninsula and supports the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister personally wished President Lee Jae Myung and the Republic of Korea success in assuming the role of APEC Chair 2025 in the coming days.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-asean-va-han-quoc-can-tang-cuong-dong-contribute-cho-hoa-binh-an-ninh-on-dinh-va-thinh-vuong-o-khu-vuc-332402.html