Manila: South Korea, China, and Japan on Thursday emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration on supply chains, food, and energy security during the ASEAN-related ministerial meeting, amid ongoing challenges in West Asia.
According to Nam News Network, the agreement was reached at the 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Manila. This gathering brought together high-level diplomats from the 11 ASEAN member states and the three Northeast Asian countries to discuss strategies for advancing practical cooperation.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi were present at the meeting, while China was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying, instead of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, due to tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
Cho expressed concerns over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the strain on food and energy security. He noted that the crisis presents an opportunity for ASEAN Plus Three to demonstrate the value of their cooperation. Cho emphasized South Korea’s role as a significant contributor to regional food security through rice assistance and called for expanded collaboration to address food security challenges.
Furthermore, Cho advocated for measures to diversify supply chains and pledged South Korea’s continued support for the ASEAN Power Grid project, nuclear energy initiatives, and regional energy security in cooperation with the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi underscored the importance of the group’s role in tackling challenges such as energy and food security, ageing populations, and disaster prevention and response. Meanwhile, China’s Hua acknowledged that the world is experiencing “turbulence and transformation,” affecting supply chains and regional security.
Cho also sought ongoing support for South Korea’s efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, aiming for peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity through dialogue with North Korea. Despite strained inter-Korean relations and North Korea’s absence from the ASEAN Regional Forum for the second year, Cho reiterated the importance of dialogue and diplomacy.
The participating countries agreed to develop existing cooperation mechanisms into more practical frameworks to address external shocks and global supply chain disruptions, as stated by the ministry. They concurred that issues concerning the Korean Peninsula should be resolved through diplomatic means.