Foreign Minister Park asks for support for Busan Expo in Malay-Indonesian talks.

On the 14th (local time), Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin held a meeting with Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the ‘2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Joint Ministerial Meeting’ held in San Francisco, USA. / Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin has been promoting Busan’s bid for the 2030 Expo to the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 18th, Minister Park held successive ministerial meetings with Malaysia and Indonesia on the occasion of the ‘Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Joint Ministerial Meeting’ held in San Francisco, USA on the 14th (local time).

Minister Park met with Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and evaluated that exchanges between the two countries are actively taking place on the 40th anniversary of Malaysia’s Eastern Policy this year, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields in the future.

In particular, Minister Park asked for the Malaysian government’s active cooperation to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership between Korea and ASEAN next year. Minister Zambry promised to play an active role in expanding Korea-ASEAN cooperation, stating that Malaysia is scheduled to take over as the ASEAN chair country in 2025.

On the 14th (local time), Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin held an informal meeting with Retno Marsudi, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the ‘2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Joint Ministerial Meeting’ held in San Francisco, USA. / Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Afterwards, Minister Park checked follow-up measures on the issues discussed at the bilateral summit held on the occasion of President Yoon Seok-yeol’s official visit to Indonesia last September, at an informal meeting with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

Minister Park asked the Indonesian government to pay special attention to creating a friendly policy environment for Korean companies in the electric vehicle-battery ecosystem construction project that Indonesia is focusing on. He also requested active interest and effort to ensure the successful completion of the joint development project of the next-generation fighter KF-21 (Indonesian name IF-X) between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Minister Park expressed concern about North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations and the violent conflict situation between Israel and Palestinian Hamas in both meetings. He agreed with both foreign ministers that the international community needs to strengthen cooperative efforts.