Korea's first envoy to ASEAN vows to deepen cooperation

Korea's first ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said Friday that he will spare no effort to deepen bilateral cooperation with the 10-member regional bloc, hoping it will help ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Baek Seong-taek, a career diplomat who had served in various capacities at overseas missions including Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia, was appointed this week as Seoul's first envoy dedicated to ASEAN.

With Baek's appointment, Korea became the fourth non-ASEAN nation to name an ambassador to the regional bloc and will launch a permanent mission for the ASEAN in Jakarta next month to redouble engagement on a wide range of issues such as trade, regional security, disaster management and human rights.

"I will work to strengthen cooperation with the ASEAN to help it contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Baek, 57, told Yonhap News Agency.

"If ASEAN and Korea strengthen their cooperative relationship, we will stand to gain in a diplomatic community that deals with issues regarding the Korean Peninsula," Baek said.

Baek said he expects ASEAN to play a "balancing role" in Asia, where a power shift is under way amid the rise of China and the decline of Japanese influence, with the U.S. making a so-called "pivot" to the region.

ASEAN is Korea's second-largest trade partner after China, and the second-largest investment destination after the European Union. The region is also an important source of energy and other resources for Korea, and sits on key maritime routes that the country uses to bring foreign resources home.

Two-way trade between Korea and ASEAN stood at US$125 billion last year, and the two sides have already laid out a goal to increase bilateral trade to $150 billion by 2015. (Yonhap)

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