(VOVworld) – Delegates to the third meeting of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea (RoK) Joint Cooperation Committee on Sunday expressed their pleasure at progress in bilateral relations. The event in Jakarta, Indonesia, reviewed recent relations and discussed ways to boost future cooperation.
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RoK is urged to maintain support for ASEAN's efforts to ensure peace in East Sea - Illustrative image
(Photo: VNA) |
The Republic of Korea is ASEAN’s 5th largest trading partner and its 6th biggest investor. In 2014 bilateral trade accounted for 5.2% of ASEAN’s total and RoK contributed 3.3% of ASEAN’s total FDI capital. The two sides have approved a number of programs, initiatives, and projects, including the ASEAN-RoK Forest Cooperation Agreement and a plan to establish an ASEAN Cultural House in Busan in 2017.
For future orientations, both sides agreed to closely follow the Declaration on the 2014 ASEAN-RoK Joint Vision and the 2025 ASEAN Community Vision. They committed to an effort to increase two-way trade to 200 billion USD by 2020. Priorities for cooperation will be given to non-traditional challenges, climate change mitigation, and education and training.
Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam, head of the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN, urged ASEAN and the Republic of Korea to tighten links on strategic issues, including maintaining regional peace, security, and stability. He asked Korea to support ASEAN’s efforts to ensure peace, stability, security, and maritime and navigation freedom and safety in the East Sea.