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‘Inseparable friends’ ASEAN, S. Korea upbeat about upcoming summit
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Friendship matters: South Korean Ambassador to ASEAN Lim Sung-nam (left), ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi (center) and Brunei Permanent Representative to ASEAN Kasmalati Kassim pose together for pictures during a reception to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea Dialogue Relations in Jakarta on Thursday. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
A
s ASEAN and South Korea celebrate 30 years of ties, the partners are upbeat about an upcoming summit between the two “inseparable friends” that aims to unlock future cooperation, Seoul’s ambassador to the region has said.
At a reception commemorating the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea dialogue relations on Thursday, South Korean Ambassador to ASEAN Lim Sung-nam insisted that strengthening cooperation with ASEAN was not a choice but a necessity.
"ASEAN and Korea are inseparable friends who share their experiences and potential for a common future," he said, quoting a message from South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Attended by around distinguished 700 guests, including ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi, members of the diplomatic community, Korean nationals and citizens of ASEAN states in Jakarta, the event was cohosted by the South Korean mission to ASEAN together with the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives and held in the newly expanded ASEAN Secretariat building in Jakarta.
Lim said ASEAN-Korean cooperation had grown since the implementation of Moon’s New Southern Policy, which aims to diversify the country’s diplomatic and economic ties by seeking upgraded ties with India and ASEAN as guided by the pillars of “people, prosperity and peace”.
As the world increasingly looks to ASEAN and India as significant drivers of global economic growth, South Korea intends to level up its relations in areas such as politics, the economy and culture – to the level it currently enjoys with the United States, Japan, China and Russia.
He said the relationship would become even stronger after the 19th ASEAN-South Korea Commemorative Summit that is to be held in Busan, South Korea, from Nov. 25 to 27, and is expected to gather together more than 10,000 attendees including leaders and officials from ASEAN member states as well as the business community and the general public.
