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PHILIPPINES AND KOREA HOLD DEFENSE MINISTERIAL MEETING

SEOUL, 05 June 2022 — Philippine National Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, ROK Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup, during his Official visit to the Republic of Korea at the ROK Ministry of National Defense on 03 June 2022.

The two Ministers exchanged views on Philippines-ROK bilateral defense cooperation as well as the situation in the South China Sea (SCS) and Korean Peninsula. Secretary Lorenzana also expressed the Philippines’ support for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK.

On bilateral defense relations, the Ministers acknowledged the close ties between the Philippines and ROK defense and military establishments, particularly in the area of defense industry and logistics cooperation to which Minister Lee emphasized that ROK will continuously support the AFP capability-upgrade program. Secretary Lorenzana noted the bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and ROK have continued to flourish, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, both countries have established dialogue platforms at the defense and major defense service-levels.

ROK also committed to strengthening communication through active regular military exchanges, and looked forward to the Republic of Korea Marine Corps' first participation in the Philippines-led annual KAMANDAG exercise to kick off in October 2022.Both countries will have a presence at the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) this month.

Minister Lee expressed hope for continuous and expanded bilateral relations. Secretary Lorenzana again reaffirmed the DND and AFP's appreciation for ROK's support of defense modernization program and proposed that personnel exchanges should likewise be sustained. END

PH AMBASSADOR DELIVERS LECTURE ON PH-ROK COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AT KANGWON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Amb. Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivers a lecture for academics and graduate students of Kangwon National University

31 May 2022, Seoul - Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivered a lecture on Philippines-Korea Cooperation on Agriculture and Rural Development at Kangwon National University (KNU) on 19 May 2022. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega provided an overview of PH-ROK bilateral trade in agriculture, PH-ROK bilateral cooperation in agriculture, and the PH agriculture ecosystem. After the lecture for graduate students and faculty, the Ambassador with Philippine Agricultural Attaché Ma. Alilia Maghirang met with KNU officials led by President Kim Heon-Young. END

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR ATTENDS MEETING BETWEEN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER PARK JIN AND THE ASEAN COMMITTEE IN SEOUL

Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (front row, second from the left) poses together with Foreign Affairs Minister Park Jin (front row, third from right) and the members of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul on 27 May 2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.

SEOUL, 01 June 2022 — The ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) met with ROK Foreign Affairs Minister Park Jin on 27 May 2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. This is the ACS’ first meeting with the new ROK Foreign Affairs Minister.

Foreign Minister Park Jin assured the ACS that the Yoon administration will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation with the ACS members across numerous sectors. He likewise expressed hopes for closer and more active Korean partnership with ASEAN in connection with the recently launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Foreign Minister Park also conveyed his desire to visit all the ASEAN member states in due course either on stand alone visits and/or as part of Ministerial or summit meetings.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega congratulated Minister Park on his appointment and looked forward to working even more closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in further enhancing PH-ROK relations. She added that with common participation in various international and regional platforms, like the RCEP and the IPEF, and the early signing and implementation of the PH-ROK FTA, a major economic milestone under the Duterte Administration, the Philippines is ready to continue being a close partner of ROK in addressing mutual pressing economic, security, and health concerns.

The Ambassador also shared, among others, that Philippine President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. looks forward to the further elevation of PH-ROK Partnership which would be a fitting backdrop as the Philippines and the Republic of Korea commemorate 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations in 2024. Ambassador De Vega likewise reaffirmed that PH aligns itself with ROK's views on peace in the Korean Peninsula and is a ready partner for dialogue and diplomacy as a founding member of ASEAN, and as a participant in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The Ambassador mentioned that President-elect Marcos anticipates the active revival of two-way travel between the PH and ROK and of people-to-people exchanges noting that flight operations to and from the PH and ROK have started to increase. Lastly, the Philippines’ interest, as mentioned by President-elect Marcos to Korean Ambassador Kim In-Chul, on seeking best practices exchanges with Korea on the operational use of nuclear energy and digitalization was likewise shared with FM Park. END