17 October

The launching ceremony of the ASEAN-Korea Train tour was held at Seoul Station in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, at 8 am local time yesterday, with the participation of representatives from ASEAN member countries and dignitaries in various sectors of ROK.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister for the SMEs and Startups Mrs Park Young-sun, Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint, Chair of the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy Mr Joo Hyung Chul, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Korea Centre Mr Lee Hyuk, Ambassador of ASEAN-Korea Mission Mr Lim Sungnam, Executive Director of 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit Preparatory Office Mr Suh Jeong-in, Mayor of Yeongdong-gun County Mr Park Se Bok and officials, the deputy ministers and ambassadors from ASEAN member countries, Myanmar Ambassador to ROK U Thant Sin, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) Mr Chen Dehai, Secretary General of ASEAN-Japan Centre(AJC) Mr Masataka Fujita, and Director at the ASEAN Secretariat Mr Tran Dong Phuong.

At the opening ceremony, the Minister of the SMEs and Startups and the Chair of the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy explained about the tour, objectives and expectations from ASEAN-Korea cooperation.

Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint expressed thanks for inviting to the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations and the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.

He also remarked ASEAN and ROK has seen closer ties year after year since a unique partnership was first established 30 years ago, while development of cooperation has been a significant success for the two regions.

The Union Minister also said that the New Southern Policy initiated by President Moon Jae-in could increase cooperation due to its three pillars of People, Prosperity and Peace, aimed at better ties in multi sectors.

The Union Minister added the train tour could lead to deeper and lasting cooperation, partner relations, mutual understandings, exchange of culture and knowledge among people and a goal of a more peaceful and prosperous destination.

He said all the participants, including common public, businesspersons and those who represent for technology, arts and media industries have been ready to take the train, showing all-inclusiveness, connectivity and equality to promote peace and prosperity of ASEAN and Korea regions.

He also concluded they were excited to start the tour which will be filled with meaningful programmes, and extended thanks to the ASEAN-Korea Centre and the organizers of the tour.

The ASEAN-Korea Train tour is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROK and the ASEAN-Korea Centre, with the aims to promote partner relations of the two region, to hold the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations.

The Train tour is organized to strengthen regional cooperation based on cultural and economic relations of people from ASEAN and Korea, with the participation of 200 persons, including senior government officials from the 10 ASEAN member countries, ROK, the People’s Republic of China and Japan, as well as representatives of artistes and youth.

Along the ways through Gyeongju, Busan, Suncheon and Gwangju cities, the train is set to stop at significant places, art museums and cultural heritages of tourist destinations in the RoK, before returning to Seoul.

MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)