By Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is currently in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the ASEAN Summit, attended the 24th ASEAN-ROK Summit on September 6 and held in-depth discussions on the achievements and future directions of ASEAN-ROK cooperation. Participating countries adopted the 'ASEAN-Korea Summit Joint Statement on AOIP Cooperation'.
 

The President welcomed the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), which was announced by the Korean government last year, for expanding the outreach and depth of our cooperation, emphasizing that the KASI is anchored on ASEAN Centrality and a firm support for the ASEAN Perspective on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

Noting that the efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation have borne fruit and ushered in a new era of trilateral cooperation at the Camp David Summit in August, the President emphasized that the three countries will continue to align their respective Indo-Pacific strategies and identify new areas of cooperation based on their full support for the ASEAN-led regional architecture.

The President emphasized the urgent need for strong solidarity and close cooperation among nations to overcome the global and complex crises facing the international community, and presented the concrete and practical contributions of his government based on the ASEAN-Korea Solidarity Initiative.

First, the President stated that the Republic of Korea will strengthen security cooperation with ASEAN to safeguard a rules-based order based on universal values. To this end, he said that Korea will strengthen cooperation in defense and defense-related areas, as well as in countering transnational crimes such as cybersecurity, drugs, and terrorism. 

Emphasizing that peace and stability in the South China Sea, a key maritime transportation route in the region, is essential to the prosperity of the Indonesia-Pacific region, he said that we will strengthen maritime security cooperation by supporting ASEAN countries' maritime law enforcement capabilities and expanding joint exercises with ASEAN.

The President emphasized that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats pose a grave threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region, and a direct challenge to the international non-proliferation regime. 

While calling on ASEAN to continue to support the international community's efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea, the President also urged ASEAN to play an active role in blocking the illegal seizure of virtual assets and labor transfers, which are the main sources of funding for North Korea's nuclear and missile development. He also emphasized that no UN member state should derogate from its obligations under UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, including the prohibition of illegal arms trade.

Second, the President emphasized ASEAN's commitment to creating new growth engines, bridging development gaps, and contributing to shared prosperity. Announcing that the ASEAN-Korea Digital Innovation Flagship Project will be launched next year, the President pledged that the Seoul government will continue to provide the necessary support to encourage private investment in future industries such as digital, electric vehicles, batteries, and smart cities.

The President also pledged new contributions to the Mekong River Commission to support inclusive growth and integration in ASEAN, and proposed to enhance the ASEAN-Korea FTA to meet the changing environment, including digital and climate change.

Third, the President pledged to actively promote cooperation with ASEAN in the areas of climate change mitigation and health.

Through the ASEAN-Korea Methane Action Partnership, which was launched in July, Korea will systematically support ASEAN's methane reduction efforts, and continue to cooperate with ASEAN in vaccine production and treatment development, contributing to strengthening infectious disease response capabilities.

On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relationship in 2024, the President proposed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," which was welcomed by the ASEAN leaders. The President also congratulated East Timor on its in-principle accession to ASEAN (with observer status contingent on ASEAN membership) and said the ROK government will support East Timor's efforts to eventually join ASEAN.

On the occasion of the meeting, the President recalled that the Republic of Korea has risen from the ashes of war to become a developed country in just half a century, and said that the Republic of Korea intends to use the 2030 Busan World Expo to provide a platform to share its experience in this development and to jointly seek solutions to the challenges facing humanity. 

Emphasizing the special ties between ASEAN and Busan, which has hosted two ASEAN-ROK Special Summits in 2014 and 2019, the President asked for the interest and support of ASEAN leaders so that Busan can once again contribute to building a better future for humanity in the region and around the world.