JAKARTA, 25 May 2022 – ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening cooperation, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery efforts, at the 9th ASEAN-ROK Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting held yesterday at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.
ASEAN and the ROK stressed the need to work closely in facilitating post-pandemic recovery through the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. ASEAN welcomed the strong desire of the new ROK Government to forge closer partnership with ASEAN.
In underscoring its continued support for ASEAN Community-building efforts, the ROK intended to increase its contribution to the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund (AKCF) from US$ 14 million to US$ 16 million annually.
The meeting noted the progress made in ASEAN-ROK cooperation over the past one year including through following up on the outcomes of the 22nd ASEAN-ROK Summit in October 2021 and activities to implement various areas of cooperation under the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (2021-2025).
More than 71% action lines in the Plan of Action have been addressed in the second year of implementation, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting highlighted the ROK’s support for ASEAN and ASEAN Member States in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, including the ROK’s total contribution of US$ 6 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.
The two sides also agreed to continue deepening cooperation in various areas, including digital economy, science and technology, disaster management, public health, smart cities and innovation, sustainable development, environment and climate change, connectivity, tourism, capacity building and human resource development.
Currently, various cooperative activities and projects are being implemented in these areas with support from the AKCF.
The 9th ASEAN-ROK JCC meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to ASEAN Nguyen Hai Bang and Ambassador of the ROK to ASEAN, Kwon Hee-seog. Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political Security Community were in attendance.
