Joint Press Announcement Following Korea-Singapore Summit
U.S. and Israeli Airstrikes on Iran Heighten Middle East Instability
"Shared Aspiration for Restoration of Stability and Peace"
"Assessing Impact on Global Security and Supply Chains...
Expecting to Expand Cooperation in Promising Fields Like AI"
President Lee Jaemyung, who is on a state visit to Singapore, held a summit with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and stated that the two leaders shared the view that they hope for the restoration of stability and evaluation in the Middle East, following the unrest triggered by the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. In particular, President Lee discussed the impact of the Middle East situation on global security and energy supply chains, and also requested Singapore's role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
On March 2, President Lee, during a joint press announcement held immediately after the summit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, said, "Prime Minister Wong and I discussed the recent situation in the Middle East during our talks," and added, "We assessed the impact of the Middle East situation on global security, energy supply chains, and the global economy." On February 28, the United States and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran, and during this process, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei died, leading to heightened instability across the Middle East. The Korean government is operating a 24-hour emergency response system, led by Prime Minister Kim Minseok.
President Lee also addressed peace on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea-U.S. dialogue. Emphasizing that Singapore was the site of the historic North Korea-U.S. summit in 2018, he stated, "Eight years ago, Singapore demonstrated outstanding diplomatic leadership for peace through dialogue and communication." He continued, "I would like to express my deep gratitude to Prime Minister Wong for actively supporting our government's efforts toward peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue," adding, "I trust Singapore will play a constructive role for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region."
President Lee also called for expanding and developing bilateral exchanges and cooperation. Noting that it had only been four months since their last summit, he said, "Both countries have demonstrated the capabilities of exemplary middle powers by turning limited resources and geopolitical challenges into opportunities for development. Even in times of extreme uncertainty, we are reliable partners."
He continued, "Our two countries, which have been leaders in promoting a regional free trade order, are launching negotiations to improve the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). We will improve the FTA to reflect changes in the trade, economic security environment, and technological advancements." He also added, "The Korea Development Bank and 'Seviola', the asset management group of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to lead investment cooperation. We will also swiftly conclude an MOU on smart farm cooperation to expand collaboration on food security."
Furthermore, President Lee said that in the key area of artificial intelligence (AI), the two countries will establish an 'AI Cooperation Framework' as a stepping stone to advance the vision of 'AI for All'. In the field of security, he announced plans to expand joint research on defense technology and to continue discussions on strengthening defense capabilities. He also said the two countries would strengthen cooperation to address transnational threats such as online scams and cyber threats.
President Lee stated, "As a result of this summit, I hope our two countries will broaden the horizon of cooperation into future promising fields such as AI, nuclear power, and advanced technologies. Together with Singapore, we will fully implement the 'CSP Vision' and actively support Singapore's activities as the chair of ASEAN next year." The 'CSP Vision', announced at last year's Korea-ASEAN summit, refers to being a Contributor (fulfilling dreams and hopes), a Springboard (for growth and innovation), and a Partner (for peace and stability).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
