Seoul (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joined leaders of otherASEAN member states and President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in at the second session of the ASEAN-RoKCommemorative Summit in Busan on November 26.

In his speech at the session, PM Phuc proposed a number of directions topromote cooperation for connectivity between the RoK and ASEAN, including connectingand developing infrastructure at seaport along the strategic shipping routefrom the Indian Ocean to the Pacific linking Southeast Asia with Northeast Asia.

He asked the RoK toaccelerate the disbursement of capital from the Global Infrastructure Fund tosupport ASEAN’s infrastructure projects.

The Vietnamese PM said with its technological strength, especially digitaltechnology, the RoK is in a good position to assist ASEAN businesses,especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in adapting to theFourth Industrial Revolution and the digital economy.

Phuc suggested ASEAN and the RoK strongly invest in connecting people,facilitating travel, tourism, and promoting the flow of skilled labourersbetween the two sides.

ASEAN leaders emphasised that connectivity is ASEAN's high priority in its effortto promote regional connectivity and build the ASEAN Community.

They expressed thanks to the RoK’s effective support for the grouping inimplementing master plans on ASEAN connectivity in theperiods of 2010-2015 and 2015-2025 and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) to narrow the development gap;  developing human resources, vocational training,smart cities, roads, railways and sea routes to connectareas in ASEAN.

ASEAN member nations want to expand comprehensive cooperation with the RoK inthe fields of infrastructure development, digital connectivity, and people-to-peopleexchange, they said.

For his part, Moon affirmed that his country will actively cooperate with ASEANto foster the regional connectivity.
Regarding infrastructuredevelopment, the RoK will contribute to increasing cohesion between island and continentalareas in East Asia, and encourage Korean businesses to invest in 19 keyinfrastructure projects in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, hesaid.

In terms of digital connectivity, the RoK will accelerate connection of smarturban infrastructure, through choosing Busan and Sejong to pilot linkages with  the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN); and enhancingthe sharing of satellite data with ASEAN on monitoring climate change andenvironmental impact in Asia.
The RoK will also improve its visa system to facilitate ASEAN citizens’travel to the RoK; and encourage cooperation in maritime and aviation transportbetween the two sides, he said.

Moon also announced the RoK’s initiative to provide vocationaltraining for 100 teachers and 400 workers from ASEAN in the next three years, addingthat the country will also support ASEAN member nations in improving technologicalcapacity and solutions, and double the number of scholarships for ASEANcitizens by 2022.

During the working lunch on promoting peace in the Korean Peninsula on the sameday, ASEAN and RoK leaders applauded historic positive progress in dialogues forpeace and denuclearization in the Peninsula, including the inter-Korean and US-DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea summits.

ASEAN leaders highly appreciated efforts made by the RoK government and PresidentMoon in promoting the peace process in the Korean Peninsula, affirming ASEAN'swillingness to support and contribute to joint efforts towards sustainablepeace and denuclearization in the Peninsula, including creating conditions forparties to intensify dialogue within ASEAN-led forums.

President Moon acknowledged andappreciated positive and constructive stance and goodwill of ASEAN countries tocontribute to dialogues and cooperation for peace and denuclearization in the Peninsula.

Talking about the issue, PM Phuc affirmedthat along with other ASEAN countries, Vietnam supports dialogue to reducetension, while calling on parties concerned to strictly implement  Resolutions of the UN Security Council on denuclearization,towards building a peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula./.