South Korea, ASEAN Elevate Relations To Highest Level

VIENTIANE, Oct 10 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) elevated their relations to the highest level on Thursday, underscoring the importance of promoting peace and stability in the South China Sea, Yonhap News Agency reported.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and ASEAN leaders adopted a joint declaration on the establishment of a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” diplomatic parlance that refers to the highest level of relations that ASEAN can forge with a dialogue partner, during their summit in Vientiane, Laos.

It is the first upgrading of relations between the two sides in 14 years after they forged a lower-level “strategic partnership” in 2010. South Korea is ASEAN's sixth dialogue partner to have the highest-level of ties after the United States, China, Japan, Australia and India.

“Today, South Korea and ASEAN established the comprehensive strategic partnership to further enhance cooperation,” Yoon said. “As partners for shared prosperity, we will push for comprehensive cooperation covering a wide range of areas.”

During the summit, Yoon and ASEAN leaders addressed regional security concerns in light of North Korea's threats and China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

They affirmed "the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, in accordance with international law," the joint declaration said.

ASEAN leaders expressed support for Yoon's unification doctrine that pursues "a denuclearised, peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula," and efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, it noted.

On Thursday, Yoon, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese Premier Li Qiang joined the ASEAN Plus Three Summit to discuss ways to deepen ties with the regional bloc.

It marks the first trilateral meeting of South Korea, Japan and China since the leaders of the nations met in Seoul in May, the first such gathering in 4 1/2 years.

Yoon emphasised that South Korea's establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN would further solidify cooperation among the three nations and the regional bloc.

"The trilateral partnership between South Korea, Japan and China has reached the highest level of partnership with ASEAN, which presents an opportunity to enhance the cooperation among the three countries in a virtuous cycle with ASEAN Plus Three," Yoon said.

Key areas of cooperation discussed included a multilateral currency swap and emergency rice reserves to create regional safety nets in preparation for potential financial and food crises.

The leaders also agreed to accelerate collaboration with ASEAN countries on EVs, focusing on infrastructure development and research to position the region as an EV production hub.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP