1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha will attend ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings to take place on September 9-12 in a virtual format.

° Minister Kang will attend four ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings -- the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting between the ROK and ASEAN as well as of the ASEAN Plus Three (APT / ASEAN+the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China and Japan), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

° The Meetings were originally planned to take place in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the ASEAN Chair for 2020, but will be held in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 situation.

2. The ROK government, recognizing that it is important to consolidate commitments to enhancing solidarity and promoting peace in the region despite the difficulties triggered by COVID-19, will underscore at the upcoming ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings the need for cooperation and solidarity in the region in the area of health and medical care as well as for economic recovery.

3. Minister Kang will also stress the importance of progress in the Korean Peninsula peace process for peace and stability in the region and ask for the participating countries’ support for an early resumption of dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

4. At the ASEAN-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for September 9, the foreign ministers will review the implementation progress of the follow-up on the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit held in November 2019 and explore ways to deepen ASEAN-ROK cooperation.

° Minister Kang will express the commitment to strengthening the ASEAN-ROK Strategic Partnership, including by advancing the ROK’s New Southern Policy in a way that reflects the shifted policy environment and ASEAN’s demand for a new area of cooperation.

5. At the APT Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for September 9, the participants will review the progress in the implementation of the follow-up on the Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit held on April 14 in a virtual format and discuss ways to collaborate on COVID-19 response and achieve economic recovery.

6. At the EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held on September 9 bringing together the foreign ministers of 18 countries in the region, including the ASEAN member states, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of India, the participants will exchange views on the regional situation, including Korean Peninsula issues.

° Minister Kang will discuss with her counterparts ways for active collaboration of the international community for peace on the Korean Peninsula as well as for harmonious cooperation between the ROK’s New Southern Policy and various regional initiatives of the Asia-Pacific.

7. The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the ARF, which is composed of 27 member countries, including ASEAN member states, the U.S., China, Japan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the European Union, will be held on September 12. The foreign ministers will exchange views on the global situation and security agenda, such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula and non-traditional security issues. They will also seek ways to build trust and step up security cooperation among the participating countries. 

8. The ROK government will maintain the momentum of diplomacy toward ASEAN, which was taken to a higher level through the Commemorative Summit held in 2019, and continue to contribute to peace and stability in the region by taking a leading part in consultative forums with ASEAN.