President Moon: "Korea is ASEAN's friend... Let's overcome COVID-19 together"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in emphasized the power of solidarity and cooperation to overcome COVID-19 and extended a hand to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) saying, "Let's overcome COVID together."

On the 26th, President Moon attended the 22nd Korea-ASEAN Summit via video conference and said, "We must deepen our friendship to overcome COVID and achieve a better recovery."

President Moon stated, "ASEAN has developed as one community over the past half-century, turning crises into opportunities," and added, "Even during the pandemic, ASEAN embodied the spirit of one ASEAN and unified response, serving as a model of solidarity and cooperation."

He continued, "ASEAN and Korea have overcome the East Asian financial crisis and the global financial crisis together," and said, "As a friend of ASEAN, Korea will overcome COVID together and create an inclusive and sustainable future."

President Moon emphasized, "Korea has been strengthening cooperation with ASEAN based on the New Southern Policy initiated in 2017 and the New Southern Policy Plus announced last year," and added, "Korea will contribute to ASEAN's economic recovery by donating an additional 5 million dollars to the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund to accelerate vaccine distribution and by enhancing cooperation to stabilize global supply chains."

Through the Korea-ASEAN joint statement, he declared Korea's strengthened commitment, stating that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be ratified within this year, and that efforts will be made to promptly implement the Korea-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Korea-Philippines FTA signed on the same day.