외교부

한-태국 외교장관회담 모두발언

My warm welcome to you, Minister Maris(마릿), and your delegation.

I am delighted to see you again here in Seoul following our meeting in Vientiane last week during the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings. Your visit is especially meaningful as it marks your first official visit to Korea as the Foreign Minister of Thailand.

Thailand holds a very special place in my heart as Bangkok is where I started my overseas assignment as a diplomat four decades ago.

Since then, our bilateral trade volume has grown fortyfold, a remarkable increase indeed.

Our relationship has now grown into a 'Strategic Partnership,' a partnership that is continuously growing to new heights through the active implementation of the '2022-2027 Korea-Thailand Joint Action Plan.'

Today’s meeting provides an excellent opportunity for us to take stock of the progress made in advancing this plan over the past couple of years.

Thailand is also a key partner in moving forward the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), our landmark initiative for strengthening the Korea-ASEAN partnership.

We welcome Thailand's assumption of the role of country coordinator for Korea-ASEAN Dialogue relations starting this month.

I look forward to working closely with you toward the establishment of a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' between Korea and ASEAN in October in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of our dialogue with the ASEAN.

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to take this moment to congratulate you on the 72nd birthday of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn(마하 와치라롱껀), though somewhat belatedly.

Once again, I warmly welcome you, and I look forward to our in-depth and fruitful discussions today.

The floor is all yours.