ASEAN, ROK Renew Commitment to Forge Closer Cooperation

aseanlogoJAKARTA, 25 March 2015 – The Second Meeting of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) was held on 24 March at the ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting reviewed ASEAN-ROK cooperation in the past one year and discussed its future direction, particularly on the progress of implementation of the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (POA) 2011-2015, follow-up to the outcomes of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in October 2014, and the implementation of projects and activities.

 

The Meeting acknowledged the progress of implementation of the POA as reflected by the large number of activities and projects implemented thus far. ASEAN and the ROK agreed on the need for both sides to re-double efforts to implement the remaining measures of the POA. They also agreed to work closely in finalising the ASEAN-ROK POA for 2016-2020 to reflect new commitments that will further strengthen ASEAN-ROK cooperation as well as contribute to the ASEAN Community-building process.

 

Both sides discussed ways to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of ASEAN-ROK development cooperation, including by exploring new possible approaches to expedite the project appraisal and approval process and to enhance the utilisation of the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Funds. ASEAN and the ROK also briefed each other on the developments in their respective regions.

 

The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Rahmat Pramono, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to ASEAN and H.E. Baek Seong-Taek, Ambassador of the ROK to ASEAN. The Permanent Representatives of ASEAN Member States to ASEAN and their representatives, officials of the Mission of the ROK to ASEAN and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK in Seoul, and the ASEAN Secretariat attended the Meeting.