Yoon "Prompt Conclusion of Economic Partnership Agreement"... Thai Prime Minister "Expansion of Defense and Defense Industry Cooperation"

Yoon-Paetongtan Prime Minister's First Summit Meeting

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos and others at the Korea-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit held on the 10th (local time) at the National Convention Center (NCC) in Vientiane, Laos.
From the left: Aung Cho Moe, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar; Ferdinand Marcos, President of the Philippines; Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore; Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand; Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam; President Yoon; Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Laos; Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia; Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei; Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia; Ma'ruf Amin, Vice President of Indonesia; and Xanana Gusm?o, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is visiting Vientiane, Laos to attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit, held his first summit meeting with Thailand's new Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, on the 10th (local time).

President Yoon congratulated Prime Minister Prayut on his inauguration last September and said, "I hope that during your tenure as Prime Minister, cooperation will be significantly strengthened across a wide range of fields including trade, investment, electric vehicles, defense, defense industry, and people-to-people exchanges." He also requested Prime Minister Prayut's attention and support to ensure the swift conclusion of the 'Korea-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)' negotiations initiated this year and the smooth construction of the 'Korea-Thailand Joint Industrial Complex.'

President Yoon evaluated that "it is encouraging that the horizon of bilateral cooperation is expanding into clean energy sectors such as Hyundai Motor's construction of an electric vehicle factory in Thailand," and proposed further strengthening defense and defense industry cooperation based on mutual trust.

Prime Minister Prayut expressed agreement on expanding and developing the active bilateral cooperation in defense and defense industry and pledged to do his best as the new Prime Minister. He added, "I will strive to ensure the Korea-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement is negotiated and ratified promptly," and "I will continue to support Korean companies in sectors such as electric vehicles." He also expressed hope to further strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation with Korea, a soft power powerhouse.

Both leaders welcomed the establishment of the 'Korea-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' as a solid foundation for enhancing Korea-ASEAN cooperation during this Korea-ASEAN Summit and promised to continue close cooperation.