Korea-Mekong Joint Chair Statement Released... Promoting International Trade Including Essential Personnel Movement

Final Confirmation of 6 New Cooperative Projects
Adoption of the '2021-2025 Action Plan'... Cooperation Measures Centered on Three Pillars: People, Mutual Prosperity, and Peace

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The joint chairpersons, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, announced and adopted the "Joint Chairpersons' Statement" and the "2021-2025 Action Plan" as the outcome documents of the Korea-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on the 29th.

The Joint Chairpersons' Statement is an official document summarizing the key outcomes of this Korea-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting, including △ major achievements of Korea-Mekong cooperation △ future cooperation directions △ regional and international situations △ schedules for the 2nd Korea-Mekong Summit and the 11th Korea-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting, as well as other key discussions and agreements.

The document reflects the commitment of Korea and the six Mekong countries to jointly strive to restore and maintain connectivity by facilitating the movement of essential personnel, goods, and services and international trade amid the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the six countries' strong support for the goal of ensuring fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Furthermore, based on the Korea River-Mekong River Declaration and the seven priority cooperation areas adopted at last year's 1st Korea-Mekong Summit, the parties agreed to continue identifying specific cooperation projects. Six new cooperation projects to be implemented this year using the Korea-Mekong Cooperation Fund were finalized and officially announced through the Joint Chairpersons' Statement. The seven priority cooperation areas are △ culture and tourism △ human resource development △ agriculture and rural development △ infrastructure △ ICT △ environment △ non-traditional security threats.

The six new cooperation projects include data collection to improve irrigation system information (Cambodia), soil, water resource, and nutrient management to increase farm income in drought-affected areas (Laos), assessment of soil and water heavy metal contamination for safe crop production (Myanmar), sharing experiences, best practices, and lessons learned in COVID-19 response (Thailand), development of climate risk maps and enhancement of salinity intrusion monitoring systems in Can Tho City (Vietnam), and establishment of a Korea-Mekong electronic certificate of origin information exchange system (Korea).

Additionally, the adopted 2021-2025 Action Plan is a document outlining the implementation measures of the Korea River-Mekong River Declaration and the medium- to long-term cooperation directions between Korea and the Mekong countries, focusing on the three core values of the New Southern Policy: ‘People, Shared Prosperity, Peace,’ with detailed cooperation plans by sector.

In the ‘People’ sector, the plan reflects the intention to commemorate 2021 as the ‘Year of Korea-Mekong Exchange’ marking the 10th anniversary of Korea-Mekong cooperation and to expand mutual understanding and exchanges in various fields such as education, sports, and tourism between Korea and the Mekong countries.

In the ‘Shared Prosperity’ sector, the plan includes agreements on △ strengthening the capabilities of Mekong country citizens through rural development △ promoting infrastructure development such as roads, railways, and ports to enhance regional connectivity △ strengthening cooperation with the private sector including SMEs △ and enhancing cooperation in ICT technology development to respond to the 4th Industrial Revolution era.

In the ‘Peace’ sector, the plan specifies cooperation to address environmental issues in the Mekong region such as climate change, water and soil pollution, natural disasters like floods and droughts, water resource management, and biodiversity conservation. It also includes strengthening joint responses to non-traditional security threats such as infectious diseases including COVID-19, transnational crime, terrorism, cybercrime, and drug trafficking. Moreover, through the Korea-Mekong Future Peace Community project, the parties agreed to link unexploded ordnance and landmine removal and victim support with rural development to contribute to peace, stability, and rural advancement in the Mekong region.

The outcome documents adopted this time were prepared based on the strong will of the six countries to strengthen Korea-Mekong cooperation and are expected to serve as a guide in advancing Korea-Mekong cooperation going forward.