By Kim Young Deok and Yoon Sojung 

Despite the pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 8 said Korea has bolstered cooperation with its Southeast Asian neighbors, especially in diplomacy, economy and quarantine.

The ministry first mentioned continuing bilateral exchanges in economy, saying 340 Korean representatives from small and medium companies visited Vietnam and continued economic activities there despite the Vietnamese government's internal and external measures to contain the coronavirus. 

In a first, the Thai government on the same day approved the exceptional arrival of three Korean entrepreneurs, the ministry added. Bangkok is also preparing to set up systematic measures for the same entry exemption for required personnel from both countries.

Seoul has accelerated diplomatic activities with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) both bilaterally and multilaterally. The ministry said Korea and the five countries in the Mekong River region -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- agreed to hold in late June director-level talks on cooperation in Hanoi, Vietnam, instead of videoconferencing.

The ministry noted Korea’s strengthened quarantine cooperation with ASEAN, which has also lauded Korea’s quarantine efforts. Seoul has provided USD 2.5 million worth of humanitarian aid to ASEAN, and will also share its related experience and know-how with the region to heighten disinfection cooperation.

On Korea’s bolstered cooperation with its Southeast Asian partners, the ministry said, "We became inseparable partners from both the political and social perspectives," adding, "Continued efforts by Korea and ASEAN are important to building 'people-centered prosperity and a peace community.'"

kyd1991@korea.kr