THE International Conference on the Asean-Korea Partnership took place yesterday at the Lotte Hotel, in Seoul Korea, highlighting developments in the Asean-Korea partnership in the past three decades and sharing insights on how the relations will further evolve.
Held under the theme ‘Partnering for Tomorrow’, the event was organised by the Asena-Korea Centre with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Institute of Southeast Asean Studies (KISEAS), and South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo.
Among the objectives of the conference was to come up with recommendations and proposals to further expand cooperation between Asean and Korea, through reflections on the past developments of Asean-Korea relations.
It also had carried the objectives to enhance public understanding on the importance of Asean-Korea relations and implications for Korea’s foreign policy, as well as to encourage strategic and forward thinking by key stakeholders of Asean-Korea partnership including policymakers, scholars, businessmen, journalists, civil society, through constructive and timely discussions on the various issues pertaining to Asean and Korea.
The opening ceremony was attended by Kim Young-sun, Secretary General of the Asean-Korea Centre, Asean Secretary General Le Luong Minh, ROK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, and Alan Peter Cayetano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, as well as guests from the academia, government, media, and economic circles.
Kang Kyung-wha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK in her keynote speech at the opening ceremony, noted, “It is timely to host today’s conference in this monumental year of the 50th anniversary of Asean.
“I look forward to all the experts here sharing their insights, their vision, so that at the end of the conference, we will have an even clearer sense of how Asean and Korea can embark upon the next five decades of flourishing cooperation.
“Following today’s conference, the Korean Government will continue our discussions with academia, industries and the National Assembly in the run-up to the Asean-ROK Summit in November.
“I hope that we can garner our wisdom to develop a tangible guideline for the Asean-ROK cooperation which will be officially announced at the Summit.”
Le Luong Minh, the Secretary General of Asean also delivering a speech during the opening ceremony, said, “The timing of this Conference cannot be more opportune.
“As Asean is entering a new phase of community building and integration, the Conference offers a good opportunity for us to review the achievements of Asean-ROK relations and reflect on how we envisage to move the partnership forward.”
The conference composed of two sessions: i) 50th Anniversary of Asean and Prospects for Asean-Korea Relations and ii) Socio-cultural Cooperation between Asean and Korea.
Key speakers included Ong Keng Yong, former secretary general of Asean and Executive Deputy Chairman of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University from Asean and Lee Choong-lyol, Director General of the KISEAS and Professor at the Korea University.
Source: Borneo Bulletin
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<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
