1. The 4th meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit, chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 16:00-18:00, October 11, to review the progress in the preparations for the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit and the 1st Mekong-Republic of KOREA Summit.

° The meeting brought together about 70 people from 23 government agencies and organizations and mainly covered the progress in preparing the main programs of the Summit, including the special events, the Summit agenda and the outcome documents.

2. In her opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha requested that, with the ROK and ASEAN having entered the final phase of consultations on the special events and the cooperation projects, the Committee make preparations for the Summits with thorough professionalism and high alertness until the very last minute.

° The Minister, highlighting the value of shared prosperity, called for active cooperation with ASEAN in the preparation process. She went on to ask the Committee members from the participating government agencies and organizations to make endeavors for the Commemorative Summit to become a historic milestone in realizing the New Southern Policy vision of building “a people-centered community of peace and prosperity.”

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for the Summit preparations, introduced the progress in the preparations for all the programs, including the special events, and explained the agenda of the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of KOREA Commemorative Summit and the 1st Mekong-Republic of KOREA Summit, and the drafts of their outcome documents. The relevant government agencies and organizations shared the progress in their respective preparations toward the success of the Summits and discussed ways to make the Summits more fruitful.

4. The government, by holding the Preparatory Committee meeting every two weeks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha as its chair, is making thorough preparations in order for the Summits to become perfect diplomatic events in terms of formalities and substance, such as protocols and outcomes. Government-wide efforts will continue to that end.