On the second day of the 15th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, Leaders of ASEAN countries met with the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) during the 12th ASEAN-ROK Summit in Dusit Thani Hotel, Cha-am, to discuss current and future cooperation as well as issues that affect the entire region. Gist of the discussion is as follows:
- Leaders reviewed ASEAN-ROK cooperation and discussed areas for further cooperation, based on the concept of FEEL (fellowship, education, environment and liberalised trade) proposed in the report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), so as to elevate relations to the level of a strategic partnership. They tasked officials to further discuss implementation of proposals in the report.
- On economic cooperation, both sides noted progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-ROK FTA. They noted that ASEAN is ROK's third largest trading partner after China and the EU.
- Leaders exchanged views on ROK's three initiatives made at the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Jeju in June 2009, namely, (i) low-carbon green growth, (ii) cultural and people-to-people exchange, and (iii) support for ASEAN integration.
- Regarding the ROK's low-carbon green growth initiative, ROK reaffirmed that it would allocate USD 100 million of its USD 200 million East Asia Climate Partnership programme (an initiative proposed by ROK to provide assistance to countries in the region to reduce green house gas emissions without stifling economic growth) for use in ASEAN projects, starting next year. This was aimed at supporting ASEAN efforts to cope with climate change and to transform ASEAN towards low-carbon green growth. Projects would be in such areas as water management, biomass and waste treatment. ROK would also cooperate in terms of capacity-building for green leaders, organizing a green growth conference, and establishing focal points. An idea was raised about ROK hosting of an East Asia Global Sustainable City Conference.
- On cultural and people-to-people exchanges, ROK noted that it would establish three more ROK Cultural Centres in ASEAN by 2010 to promote cultural cooperation projects and help enhance people's mutual understanding; currently there is one. Its overseas youth volunteers would be doubled by 2015, and ASEAN-ROK youth networks would be built and programmes for exchange of college students and workers be expanded. ROK expressed its intention to enhance and diversify cooperative projects so ordinary citizens would feel the benefits, as well as enhance the scholarship programme for leaders and youth leadership programmes for students. ROK is also reviewing the proposal by the ASEAN Secretary-General to establish an ASEAN-ROK cyber university. Also raised as areas for potential cooperation are promotion of long-distance learning through the Internet, youth exchange programmes, and encouraging ASEAN study programmes in ROK's universities.
- ROK reaffirmed its support for the creation of an ASEAN community by 2015. In this regard, ROK had earlier announced that it would double its Official Development Assistance (ODA) to ASEAN by 2015 compared to level of 2008. Towards that end, ROK would increase its ODA in stages starting from 2010. In addition, ROK expressed readiness to share its experience in economic development, particularly with a view to helping close development gaps within ASEAN. It will also dispatch 1,500 volunteers as well as IT personnel to ASEAN to support development and create IT resource networks in the region, as well as other personnel to support science and technology development. On its part, ASEAN expressed hope for ROK's support for the development of an ASEAN master plan on infrastructure development.
- ASEAN expressed hope for ROK's support for ASEAN's continued participation in G20 as well as ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation. ROK would host the G20 in November 2010.
- Also touched upon were cooperation on food and energy security, tourism and the ASEAN-ROK Centre.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th
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