Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter | South Korean ministry of foreign affairs together with ASEAN-Korea

center hosted “Expanded Connectivity Forum 2022” at the western Josun Seoul on December 8, themed  “Advancing ASEAN Connectivity through Partnerships among Dialogue Partners,” focused on cooperation through a nexus among connectivity initiatives of dialogue partners. 

The motive of this forum 2022 was to introduce the Korean government’s “Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative” and to seek ways to bolster connectivity cooperation in line with the Initiative in commemoration at the Forum’s 10th anniversary. 

Choi Youngsam, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Korean Foreign Ministry, Hae-yong Kim, Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Center, government officials of the ASEAN member state, including Cambodian Ambassador and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) Chring Botumrangsay, as well as those from ASEAN’s key dialogue partners including Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia and the European Union has participated in the connectivity forum 2022.

All participants shared information on cooperation projects on infrastructure and connectivity launched by ASEAN’s key dialogue partners and explored ways to create synergy through connectivity among the projects. They exchanged views on ways to support and coordinate connectivity projects that ASEAN is conducting to implement the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo- Pacific (AOIP). 

Choi Youngsam, Deputy minister of political affairs, in his welcoming remarks has shared the political framework of “Indo-Pacific strategy” and “Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative,” underscored the Korean government’s commitment to contribute in building a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific through greater substantive and strategic cooperation that is mutually beneficial with ASEAN and other key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Choi also expressed his hope to see expanded human and infrastructure networks that would serve as a strong base of the “Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.”

“The hope that Forum would serve as a catalyst for promoting Korea-ASEAN cooperation and connecting the connectivity.” has been expressed by the Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre Ambassador Kim Hae-yong and ACS Chair Ambassador Chring Botumrangsay in their opening and congratulatory remarks, respectively.

The Foreign Ministry will continue to step up substantive cooperation with ASEAN in the areas of infrastructure as well as digital and human networks, including connectivity; and increase its contribution as a facilitator of solidarity and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific through connectivity cooperation with major countries in the region such as the U.S. and Australia. 

The ASEAN-Korea Centre has been hosting the ASEAN Connectivity Forum on an annual basis since 2013 to help enhance ASEAN connectivity and promote Korean companies’ participation in ASEAN infrastructure projects.