Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Makes the ASEAN-South Korea Partnership Future-Oriented

PMC ASEAN South Korea in Manila. (Okta/Infomed/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RI)

JAKARTA - The vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) makes the ASEAN partnership with South Korea (ROK) future-oriented, said Foreign Minister Cho Hyun while leading the ASEAN-South Korea Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with his counterpart from Vietnam Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung in Manila, Philippines, Wednesday (22/7).

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Foreign Minister Cho said while "ASEAN has started the implementation process of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, our future together, South Korea is advancing the ASEAN ROK CSP vision presented by President Lee Jae-myung at last year's summit.

"In line with the priority of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the CSP vision maps a common path towards a more future-oriented and substantive ASEAN-South Korea partnership," he said.

"This common direction is more important than ever. Disruptions in global supply chains and instability in the Middle East are reshaping our vision," said Foreign Minister Cho.

Furthermore, he said, "rapid technological transformation creates new opportunities while presenting new challenges."

"In times like this, no country can guarantee its prosperity, let alone its security, alone. With this background, President Lee has underlined the importance of solidarity among trusted partners. For Korea, ASEAN is one of those partners," said Foreign Minister Cho.

"Being a central supporter of ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led regional cooperation, the Ginseng State in turn, "has been a loyal partner for ASEAN. By strengthening our sense of solidarity, we can better face uncertainties, expand our strategic space, and create new opportunities for our people," he concluded.

"It is with this spirit that Korea introduced the CSP vision," said Foreign Minister Cho.

Built on three mutually reinforcing pillars, namely contributors to dreams and hopes, a foundation for growth and innovation, and a partner for peace and stability, this vision represents a strong political commitment. This vision also provides policy guidance on how Korea seeks to advance our partnership in the years to come.

"Korea will work closely with ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat to further refine and implement the CSP vision together," he said.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung said "economic and technological strength, constructive diplomacy, commitment to multilateralism, and consistent support for the centrality of ASEAN" make South Korea a natural partner in keeping our region open, connected, and resilient."

"Together, ASEAN and South Korea can help uphold regionalism and promote a rules-based regional order. The establishment of the ASEAN-South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024 increases the ambition of our relationship. The ASEAN-South Korea Action Plan for 2026-2030 now gives us a clear path to translate these ambitions into concrete actions," he explained.

Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung is optimistic about the strong momentum in all pillars of ASEAN-South Korean cooperation, from deepening security cooperation and improving cybersecurity to advancing digital transformation and the creative economy, the ASEAN-South Korean partnership "is becoming more dynamic, substantive, and future-oriented."

"More importantly, the next phase of our partnership must be determined by purpose and impact, by what we can build and achieve together," he said.