High-Level Video Dialogue Between Korea and 10 ASEAN Countries... Discussion on New Southern Policy and Korean New Deal

Importance of Non-Traditional Security Due to COVID-19, Discussion on Mutual Cooperation Measures
Participants Express Support for 'Korean Peninsula Peace Process' Amid Regional Cooperation and Peninsula Situation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 26th, Kim Geon, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the annual high-level consultation body between Korea and the 10 ASEAN countries, the ‘Korea-ASEAN Dialogue,’ as the chief representative from Korea. He exchanged wide-ranging opinions on strengthening Korea-ASEAN cooperation for responding to and overcoming the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as well as on regional affairs. Deputy Minister Kim co-chaired the meeting with Emmeline from Brunei.

The Korea-ASEAN Dialogue is an annual dialogue channel attended by deputy foreign ministers and deputy ministers from Korea and the 10 ASEAN countries, as well as ASEAN deputy secretaries-general. It has been held alternately in Korea and ASEAN countries every year. This year, it was scheduled to be held in Korea but was conducted via video conference considering the COVID-19 situation.

The high-level officials from Korea and ASEAN who attended this meeting agreed that despite COVID-19, cooperation between Korea and ASEAN in all fields?political-security, economy, and socio-culture?must be substantively implemented. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the health sector and to sustain future-oriented regional coordination and exchange cooperation.

Deputy Minister Kim stated that by advancing the New Southern Policy in a direction that further strengthens cooperation in all areas including political-security, economy, and socio-culture, they aim to realize a ‘people-centered community of peace and prosperity.’ He also emphasized the need to review and ensure the faithful implementation of the cooperation agreements reached by the leaders who attended last year’s Korea-ASEAN Special Summit.

In this dialogue, recognizing the importance of non-traditional security due to the unprecedented challenge posed by COVID-19, extensive discussions were held on ways to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and violent extremism, transnational crime, climate change and environment, and disaster management. Mutual cooperation measures to enhance protection and support for vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, and low-income populations were also brought to the discussion table.

Deputy Minister Kim introduced the Korean government’s efforts for economic recovery after COVID-19, including the Korean New Deal policy. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the movement of essential personnel such as regional businesspeople and expressed hope that strengthening digital economy cooperation and support efforts for small business owners and SMEs would contribute to the joint economic recovery and development of Korea and ASEAN. In addition, in-depth discussions continued on other economic areas of common interest such as smart cities and connectivity.

Furthermore, the participants agreed that cooperation and constructive roles of Korea and ASEAN countries have become even more important, and they also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and regional cooperation within the region. Regarding Korea’s emphasis on the implementation of agreements among the South-North-US leaders and between the South and North, as well as the importance of North Korea’s prompt return to dialogue, ASEAN countries stressed the need for efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue among the parties involved, expressing firm support for the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

In response, Korea stated that ASEAN-led consultative bodies play an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the region and expressed support for the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)’ announced by ASEAN last year. In particular, they agreed that regional cooperation should be led in a direction that respects the core principles presented in the outlook: ASEAN centrality, openness, transparency, inclusiveness, and a rules-based order. Deputy Minister Kim also requested ASEAN’s support for Yoo Myung-hee, Director-General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who is running for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

At this video conference, the Korea-ASEAN high-level officials agreed to continue communication to ensure that the discussions held at this meeting lead to concrete outcomes through the upcoming Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Summit scheduled for the second half of the year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.