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The Tenth ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit chaired by H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, was held successfully on 14 January 2007 in Cebu, Philippines. The Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN Member Countries had a productive meeting with H.E. Roh Moo-hyun, President of the Republic of Korea.
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We had a productive exchange of views on wide-ranging regional and international issues of common interest and concern.
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We welcomed, with pride, the assumption of former ROK Minster of Foreign Affairs Ban Ki-Moon as the new UN Secretary-General, and expressed confidence that he will inject the Asian perspective in his leadership of the United Nations.
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We expressed concern about the situation caused by the DPRK's recent missile launches and the nuclear test. We also reaffirmed the need for full implementation of the UNSC Resolutions 1695 and 1718 by all UN Member States as well as their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiation. We called for concrete and effective steps toward the full implementation of the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of humanitarian concerns of the international community, and that ASEAN could play a constructive role in order to build bridges to North Korea, helping create an environment of trust and confidence conducive to Six-Party Talks.
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We noted the possible role that the ASEAN Regional Forum may play in the future in helping promote dialogue and interaction with the DPRK.
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We noted with satisfaction the steady progress achieved in the implementation of the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration of Comprehensive Cooperation Partnership signed by the Leaders in November 2004 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
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The ASEAN Leaders expressed appreciation to the ROK for its support of ASEAN's efforts in narrowing the development gap and accelerating ASEAN integration, through the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI). They thanked the ROK for being the top contributor to the IAI and for indicating its willingness to provide more funding for IAI projects. Heeding the call of concerned ASEAN Member Countries, the ROK said that it would look into how it can assist in the construction of missing links in the Singapore-Kunming Railway Link (SKRL).
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The ASEAN Leaders, therefore, welcomed the ROK announcement that it will double Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to ASEAN Member Countries by 2009.
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The ASEAN Leaders requested the ROK to embark on tangible programs and projects to support other sub-regional cooperation frameworks, such as Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and the ASEAN-Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC).
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The ASEAN Leaders also requested the ROK to share its best practices and know-how in small-and- medium scale enterprises (SMEs), and providing capacity building, including entrepreneurial skills for ASEAN SMEs.
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We acknowledged the ROK's leadership in ICT and expressed confidence that sharing best practices will redound to the benefit of the entire region.
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We recognized the contribution of ICT in intensifying efforts to address key issues such as the Avian Flu, disaster management and other transnational concerns. We agreed that ICT can be a valuable tool for good governance and in combating corruption, and will further explore how ASEAN and the ROK can strengthen cooperation in these areas.
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We endorsed the recommendation of our Economic Ministers to extend the deadline for the Agreements in Trade in Services and Trade in Investment to November 2007. We expressed the hope that these Agreements would enter into force in 2008.
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In the meantime, we agreed that we should pursue the establishment of an ASEAN-ROK Center, for which the ROK has already made a feasibility study. In addition to trade, investment and tourism promotion, the proposed center can promote socio-cultural cooperation, which has much potential given the popularity of Korean culture, including the so-called "Korean Wave."
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We highlighted, with appreciation, the massive volume of South Korean tourists that flock to the region every year and acknowledge their contribution to helping foster mutual understanding and awareness.
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We noted the contributions that the ROK may offer in the promotion and future production of alternative and renewable sources of energy. ASEAN and ROK have plenty of room to enhance collaboration to respond more effectively to international energy problems.
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We recalled the holding of the first ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) + ROK Consultation in June 2006 in Bali, Indonesia, including the decision to launch the ASEAN-ROK Knowledge Transfer Program on Narcotic Crimes in Laos in 2007. The ROK informed the Meeting that it hopes to extend the Program to other ASEAN Member Countries by 2009.
18. The ASEAN Leaders acknowledged the innovative and pioneering role of the ROK in East Asia community – building, beginning with the formation of the East Asian Vision Group (EAVG) in 1999. They thus welcomed the proposal of the ROK to establish an ASEAN Plus Three Center for the Gifted in Science.
19. We reaffirmed our commitment to harnessing the ASEAN-ROK dialogue partnership for building the ASEAN Community and a future East Asian community.
