The commencement of the ASEAN-Korea Trade and Investment Roundtable 2024 has been announced today, heralding a forum for deliberating the future of economic cooperation between the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Korea. This year’s roundtable is hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre in conjunction with the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), with the discussions revolving around the pivotal theme, “ASEAN-Korea Cooperation for the Next Decade.”
This critical gathering adopts a modern hybrid format, combining in-person exchanges with the accessibility of virtual participation. Interested audiences worldwide can tune in to the live stream that will be broadcast on the ASEAN-Korea Centre’s YouTube channel beginning at 14:00 Korea Standard Time (KST).
Now in its fourth year, this roundtable has been instrumental in crafting meaningful dialogue around various initiatives and agreements that have shaped ties between Korea and ASEAN, such as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and strengthening of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA). These discussions have served as a crucial stepping stone in forging solid relationships and proposing cooperative measures that benefit both regions.
During the opening ceremony, anticipated insights will be shared by Secretary General Kim Jae-shin of the ASEAN-Korea Centre, while President Lee Siwook of the KIEP will extend a warm welcome to all attendees. Their addresses will pave the way for congratulatory messages from significant diplomatic figures such as Thant Sin, Myanmar’s Ambassador to South Korea and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul, and Lee Jang-keun, Ambassador of South Korea to ASEAN.
The roundtable this year will unfold in multiple sessions featuring an assemblage of academic leaders and trade experts. The initial session promises a compelling panel discussion engaging professors from renowned ASEAN universities along with seasoned professionals from both the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade and the KIEP.
A subsequent session is dedicated to unraveling the nuances of Digitalization, presenting a discourse with experts from diverse research institutions, including the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia’s Universitas Gadjah Mada, and the Asiatic Research Institute at Korea University.
Secretary General Kim Jae-shin voiced his perspective on the occasion, stressing the necessity for robust dialogues that align with the strategies and external policies of both ASEAN and Korea. The Secretary General’s vision underscores the efforts to refine the AKFTA, especially significant as this year marks the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea diplomatic relations. It is a momentous period that calls for strategic planning and dedicated cooperation to steer the relationship into a prosperous future of shared growth and collaboration.
Source: Khmer Times
