Experts highlight co-operation between Vietnam and ASEAN with the RoK

Talking to the media in Seoul, Prof. Choe Won-gi, head of the Centre for ASEAN - India Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA), said that with many important agreements reached during RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to the country in June last year, both sides have opened a new chapter in relations since their diplomatic ties were set up 30 years ago.     
         
Noting that leaders of the two countries have agreed to prioritize bilateral linkages in the fields of politics and security, the professor stated that co-operation should include maritime security and law enforcement. In the field of economic trade and investment, the two countries need to boost ties to a higher level, covering infrastructure, telecommunications, emerging technology, and energy.

Moving forward, it remains essential for the RoK and the nation to concentrate on more complex industrial sectors and emerging areas of economic collaboration in alignment with the framework of their Indo-Pacific Strategy, he said.

The RoK President has launched a regional strategy called the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) which seeks to provide fertile ground for the two sides to strengthen co-operation, not only at a bilateral level but also at regional and global levels, he continued.

Regarding RoK-ASEAN co-operation in 2023 and plans for the year ahead, the professor said that the RoK's participation was very positively received by ASEAN member countries, especially at the RoK-ASEAN summit held last year in Jakarta.    
 
This year marks the 35th anniversary since the establishment of partnership between the RoK and ASEAN. As part of this occasion, the RoK wishes to upgrade ties with the bloc to a comprehensive strategic partnership whilst both sides are in the process of seeking tangible support for the new relationship, such as a plan of actions, he said.

According to information provided by the scholar, the RoK has high expectation for the Vietnamese role as a bridge and its ability to help them to obtain their co-operation goals with ASEAN.

He assessed that the bilateral partnership between the RoK and Vietnam is the most important in their overall co-operation with ASEAN members, explaining that although Vietnam joined ASEAN late, its role and influence in the bloc has been increasingly strengthened. Indeed, the country is an active participant, contributing to shaping the common future of the group. According to him, there are many things that the country can do in the intermediary and co-ordinating role between the RoK and ASEAN.

Commenting on RoK-ASEAN ties and the role of Vietnam, Assistant Professor Beak Yong-hun of the School of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies under the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Dankook University said that the RoK is keen to promote practical and future-oriented links with ASEAN and the Mekong region.

The administration of President Yoon advocates expanding practical collaboration in future-oriented fields, such as digital transformation, climate change response, medical services, and health care, while simultaneously broadening strategic co-operation in areas of mutual interest between the RoK and ASEAN, such as maritime security and the defence industry.