1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Institute of Indian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, held the 10^th Republic of Korea (ROK)-South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Partnership Seminar, under the theme “The New Southern Policy and Regional Cooperation with South Asia,” at the Grand Ambassador Seoul Hotel, on Monday, October 28, from 09:00 to 15:40.

○ Since the first meeting in 2010, the seminar has annually invited experts from government, academia and the private sectors from eight member states of the SAARC (the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Maldives) to exchange views on ways to strengthen cooperation between the ROK and the South Asian region.

2. Officials from the Foreign Ministries and academia of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives, major think tanks and scholars at home and abroad, including the Institute of Indian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, had in-depth discussions on ways to enhance people-to-people and economic connectivity between the ROK and the South Asian region and to promote peace both in South Asia and on the Korean Peninsula.

○ The participants explored the possibility of cooperation between the ROK and the SAARC, and exchanged constructive and useful views on diverse ways to step up cooperation between the ROK and South Asia.

3. Furthermore, the 10^th seminar took place in conjunction with a week-long event titled Humanities Korea Plus (HK+) India Humanities. The seminar brought together about 30 participants including experts from academia and students with keen interest in the South Asian region. The participants enhanced their understanding of the region as well as the SAARC and joined a networking event.

4. The ROK government is pushing ahead with its New Southern Policy that aims to promote co-prosperity with the South Asian region as shown by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s visit to the ROK in February 2019 and the ROK Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon’s visit to Bangladesh in July this year. The seminar is seen to have served as a good opportunity to seek ways to improve connectivity toward peace and prosperity between the ROK and South Asia.