By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted a luncheon to welcome visiting ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn on May 28 and exchanged views on: the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations this year; the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP); the implementation of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI); and ways to advance ASEAN-ROK practical cooperation.

Cho noted that ASEAN and South Korea have been inseparable partners since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1989, and stressed that South Korea will continue to deepen and develop cooperation with ASEAN as a key partner in promoting freedom, peace, and prosperity in the region. 

He expressed hope that the announcement of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN-ROK Summit in Laos in October will provide an opportunity for ASEAN-ROK cooperation to take another leap forward.

Minister Cho also shared the progress of his government's implementation of the ASEAN-Korea Solidarity Initiative (KASI), which is now in its second year. He emphasized the Korean government's commitment to strengthening ASEAN-ROK cooperation, explaining that signature projects in the areas of digital transformation and climate change response have been launched in earnest, and cooperation resources, including the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, are steadily increasing. 

He also called for special attention and support from the ASEAN Secretariat and individual member states to facilitate the activities of Korean businesses in the ASEAN region.

In response, Mr. Kao expressed his appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) for its efforts in implementing the ASEAN-Korea Partnership Program, which is a good match between the ROK's areas of strength and ASEAN's cooperation needs. 

He expressed his willingness to continue to work closely with the ROK in the process of establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership so that ASEAN can continue to deepen its cooperation with the ROK.

Meanwhile, Cho emphasized the need for ASEAN to send a firm message to the DPRK on its hostile inter-Korean policy and nuclear and missile provocations, which continue to escalate tensions, and called for ASEAN's continued support for Korea's North Korea policy, including its bold initiatives.

The ASEAN Ambassadors present at the luncheon expressed their support for the establishment of the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and hoped that it will further expand the breadth and depth of ASEAN-ROK cooperation.