1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin attended the 24th ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN+3: ASEAN+Korea, Japan and China) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on the afternoon of July 13. At the event held under the theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” set by this year’s ASEAN Chair, the participants exchanged views on ways to step up cooperation for a stable growth of the region as well as situations in such regions as the Korean Peninsula and Myanmar.

2. The participating foreign ministers drew a common understanding on the need to strengthen ASEAN+3-led cooperation for a post-COVID-19 pandemic sustainable development of ASEAN and a stable growth of the region. Foreign Minister Park put forward three key phrases -- expansion of cooperation, the strengthening of resilience, and innovation for the future -- as well as concrete ways for cooperation in each area.

3. For expansion of cooperation for economic growth, Foreign Minister Park highlighted the importance of cooperation for the stabilization of trade and supply chains and in the finance area. He appreciated the recent conclusion of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Supply Chain Agreement, underscoring its mutually complementary effect from a nexus with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in promoting trade and stabilizing supply chains; and took note of the recently enhanced effectiveness of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) as could be seen from the currency diversification for liquidity support among the ASEAN+3 member states, while voicing hope that the ASEAN-ROK Financial Cooperation Center, opened last year, would contribute to building a sustainable financial ecosystem. 

4. With regard to the “strengthening of resilience,” Foreign Minister Park emphasized that the Korean government will donate 4,500 tons of rice to the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) this year and continue rendering support in the health and medical care areas in a way that meets each ASEAN country’s needs by holding training programs for bio workforce and conducting international cooperation projects on K-health in those countries.

5. Concerning “innovation for the future,” Foreign Minister Park shared information on digital technology-based projects on climate cooperation in the region and start-up support projects -- Korea’s strong fields -- and explained Korea’s plan to boost exchanges between younger generations, such as college exchange programs.

6. Foreign Minister Park stressed that the Korean government will seek to enhance ASEAN+3 cooperation while implementing its Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative at the same time. In particular, the Foreign Minister, highlighting Korea-Japan-China trilateral cooperation as a foundation for promoting ASEAN+3 cooperation, stated that Korea, as the coordinator for trilateral cooperation, will communicate closely with Japan and China for the resumption of their inter-governmental meetings, including the summit talks.

7. Foreign Minister Park strongly condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s launch of a long-range ballistic missile on July 12; highly appreciated the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Joint Statement issued earlier in the day to express grave concern over the launch; underscored the need for the international community’s firm and united response with regard to the situation on the Korean Peninsula; once again urged the DPRK to return to the path of denuclearization; and highlighted the importance of international cooperation for improvements in the human rights and humanitarian situation in the DPRK.

8. With regard to the Myanmar situation, Foreign Minister Park expressed deep concern over the worsening situation and called for a practical implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus under the leadership of the ASEAN Chair; and stressed that the Korean government will provide US$5.3 million in humanitarian assistance for people and refugees of Myanmar in addition to its recent US$500,000 aid to the country over Cyclone Mocha.