Minister for trade attends ASEAN+3/Korea-ASEAN economic ministerial meeting

2007-01-16 17:01
Seoul--(뉴스와이어)--The Minister for Trade, Mr. Kim Hyun-chong, on the occasion of the ASEAN Summit Meeting, attended the Korea-ASEAN Economic Ministerial Meeting and ASEAN+3 Economic Ministerial working luncheon on January 11, 2007 in Cebu, the Philippines to discuss matters related to economic trade and cooperation between Korea and ASEAN and plans for East Asian economic integration, among others.

The Korea-ASEAN Economic Ministerial Meeting serves as channel to discuss issues related to economy and trade between the 10 ASEAN member states and Korea. At this year's meeting, plans for a Korea-ASEAN FTA and trade issues of both sides were discussed. Also, the economic ministers evaluated the development progress of a Korea-ASEAN FTA, and adopted the Join Ministerial Statement, which called for a readjustment of the deadline for the Korea-ASEAN FTA services and investment agreement to November 2007. The ministers also agreed to suggest this matter to the Korea-ASEAN leaders.

At the ASEAN+3 luncheon meeting, which was participated by 10 ASEAN countries, Korea, China and Japan, Korea proposed for a second stage of the private joint research on an ASEAN+3 FTA, following the completion of the first stage in August 2005.

This year's economic Ministerial Meeting with ASEAN was held in preparation for the Korea-ASEAN Summit Meeting, ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting, and EAS Summit Meeting, which will be held during January 14 to 15. The Economic Ministerial Meeting was held on the same day as the Korea-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting.