Cooperation on New Asian Initiatives

ASEAN-ROK Leaders to meet on Jeju to discuss various regional and global issues on 20th anniv. of ASEAN-ROK ties

The ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit will take place on Jeju Island June 1-2 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations.
Minister Yu Myung-hwan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said in his welcome message, over the last 20 years, ASEAN-ROK relations have continued to develop in a wide range of areas, including the political, social and cultural fields. ASEAN has now emerged as Korea's third largest trading partner and second largest investment destination. Furthermore, about 3.5 million Koreans visit ASEAN member countries every year.
The New Asia Initiative, which is being pursued in earnest by the Korean government, focuses on strengthening Korea's partnership with ASEAN countries, with the aim of achieving common prosperity. We have high hopes that the Summit will become a milestone for the Initiative, and provide our leaders with a meaningful opportunity to forge concrete measures to further enhance cooperation between Korea and ASEAN. The Leaders will also discuss global issues of common concern, such as the financial crisis, energy, security and climate change, and seek ways to work together in dealing with them.
The minister went on to say the ASEAN-ROK CEO Summit, which will be held in conjunction with the Commemorative Summit, will present an opportunity to establish networks for substantial cooperation, and to expand business opportunities between the businesspeople of Korea and ASEAN. In addition, the ASEAN-ROK Traditional Music Orchestra will hold a performance, combining the beauty of both Korean and ASEAN traditional musical instruments. This meaningful concert will demonstrate a new partnership and cooperation between Korea and ASEAN, as we seek to foster ties grounded in diversity and harmony.















He said it is our sincere hope that the Summit will indeed prove to be a valuable occasion to further enhance our friendship as well as our common prosperity. We have every confidence that the 11 Leaders will pool their wisdom, as they unite their efforts to further strengthen ASEAN-ROK relations and to envisage an even brighter future. In this regard, we look forward to our continued support for and interest in the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit.
At the Summit, the leaders of 11 countries are expected to discuss the developments of cooperative relations between Korea and the countries of the ASEAN region for the past 20 years and also examine future directions for progress. Methods to overcome global issues that the international community is currently facing, such as the global financial crisis and climate change will also be discussed.
The upcoming Summit on Jeju Island will be the largest meeting Korea held since the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meeting (APEC) in 2005. For the first time in Korean history, the heads of state and government of the 10 ASEAN countries will all be visiting Korea, and this offers Korea an important opportunity to broaden its diplomatic horizon. The Summit also expected to provide momentum for the embodiment of the New Asia Initiative unveiled by Korea President Lee Myung-bak during his official tour of Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia in early March, and to strengthen Korea's "Partnership for Real Friendship for Good," with ASEAN, a critical partner for Korea in putting the "New Asia Initiative" into action.

ASEAN-ROK CEO Summit:
Hosted by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the ASEAN-ROK CEO Summit will take place in conjunction with the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit with the government officials and business leaders of Korea and ASEAN attending.
This forum will be held under the theme of "Change, Challenge, and Collaboration for Asia's Prosperity," which is expected to provide participants from Korea and the ASEAN countries with a platform to find international countermeasures to address the global economic crisis and promote regional business cooperation.
Topics to be taken up at the CEO summit would include global economic outlook and Asia's role, promotion of economic and social development through trade and investment, corporate growth strategy amidst changing global environment, and green growth: challenges for governments and business.
ASEAN leaders that are scheduled to participate in the Summit are His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam; His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia; His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia; His Excellency Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of Laos; His Excellency Dato' Sri Mohd bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia; His Excellency Gen. Thein Sein, Prime Minister of Myanmar; His Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines; His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Ministe of Singapore; His Excellency Adhisit Vejiajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand; His Excellency Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam; His Excellency Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Sec.Gen. of the ASEAN Secretariat. nw

His Excellency President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam

His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia

His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia

His Excellency Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

His Excellency Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia

His Excellency General Thein Sein, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines

His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore

His Excellency Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

His Excellency Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

His Excellency Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat

A view of the ICC Jeju, the venue of ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.

Minister Yu Myung-hwan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry