1. The “ROK-Australia Senior Officials’ Policy Dialogue on our support for Southeast Asia and ASEAN” aimed at strengthening cooperation between Korea’s New Southern Policy and Australia’s Indo-Pacific policy was held via video conference from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., February 25. The Dialogue was held with Mr. Park Jae-kyung, Director-General for ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Ridwaan Jadwat, First Assistant Secretary of the Southeast Asia Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, as the Head of Delegation.

o The Dialogue was newly launched in order to enhance each other’s understanding of Korea’s New Southern Policy and Australia’s Indo-Pacific policy and to explore opportunities for the two countries to work together in Southeast Asia.

o The Dialogue was attended by approximately 50 officials from both sides consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND) from the Korean side; as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the Department of Health, and the Department of Defence from the Australian side.

2. Both sides shared perspectives on the regional developments and each country’s priorities in Southeast Asian countries and on ASEAN.

o The Korean side explained that Korea has been concretizing cooperation projects in seven key areas, including public health, education, infrastructure, future industries, and non-traditional security, under the New Southern Policy Plus. The Korean side also explained that Korea will actively pursue Mekong-ROK and Maritime Southeast Asia-ROK cooperation, as part of sub-regional cooperation.

o The Australian side explained that Australia has been actively carrying out diplomatic activities in ASEAN based on the Indo-Pacific policy, and that as part of its efforts to support the region’s response to the COVID-19, Australia has identified health security, stability, and economic recovery as three priority areas of cooperation.

o Both sides recognized the potential for complementary cooperation between Korea’s New Southern Policy and Australia’s Indo-Pacific policy, and agreed to strengthen cooperation both at the bilateral level and in their engagement in ASEAN regional architecture, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), through regular conversations between the two countries’ posts in Southeast Asia and respective ASEAN missions.

3. In response to newly emerging challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the two sides discussed specific ways for cooperation with ASEAN countries in public health, Mekong, economic recovery, digital innovation, and maritime affairs.

① Pursuing concrete cooperation in vaccines and public health

o Both sides shared their experiences of cooperation with ASEAN countries to strengthen their public health system, such as enhancing capacities of hospitals and health workers, and to enhance vaccine capacity access and delivery for Southeast Asian countries, including through the COVAX Facility Advance Market Commitment.

o In addition, both sides agreed to increase regional vaccine cooperation by exploring co-hosting of a virtual experience-sharing event with ASEAN member states, and agreed to explore joint projects for cooperation in regional public health and vaccine capacity building.

② Exploring cooperation for Mekong’s water resources management

o Both sides shared the view that the water resources management in the Mekong River Basin has become a serious issue, and agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration, including through the Korea-Mekong water management joint research center.

③ Reinforcing cooperation in supporting the region’s economic recovery from COVID-19

o Both sides agreed to reinforce cooperation in enhancing ASEAN’s connectivity, including through seeking ways to incentivize the private sector to invest in ASEAN infrastructure pipelines.

o To support ASEAN countries’ digital transformation and sustainable green growth, the two sides discussed ways for complementary cooperation making use of the two countries’ strength in cybersecurity, smart city, and hydrogen energy.

④ Discussing ways to promote regional maritime security

o The two sides shared the understanding that the two countries are contributing to regional maritime security including by supporting ASEAN countries’ maritime capacity building, and also agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in non-traditional security issues such as maritime environment.

4. The Dialogue served as an opportunity to enhance each other’s understanding of Korea’s New Southern Policy and Australia’s Indo-Pacific policy and share their experiences of cooperation in Southeast Asia, as well as to explore cooperation projects that can create a synergistic effect between Korea and Australia, taking into consideration the growing demand for cooperation in public health capacity building and sustainable growth after COVID-19.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue efforts to expand the horizons of Korea’s New Southern Policy and diversify diplomacy, while seeking harmonious cooperation between the New Southern Policy and other regional initiatives based on the principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness.