Source:  Department of Foreign Affairs

25 May 2011–The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) successfully convened the 4th Philippines-ROK Policy Consultations at the MOFAT Headquarters in Seoul on May 20.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda F. Basilio and MOFAT First Vice Minister Park Suk-hwan led the Philippine and ROK delegations, respectively.

The two officials expressed satisfaction over the dynamic growth of bilateral relations and cooperation, most evident in the political and economic field, but also manifest in the socio-cultural, consular, defense and other fields.

Both sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues relevant to the continued advancement of their partnership, including trade and investments, development cooperation, as well as the exploration of further opportunities in energy, defense, agriculture, as well as in infrastructure-development through projects under the Philippines’ Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

They also discussed the continued expansion of people-to-people relations and the pursuit of measures, both bilateral and domestic, to secure the welfare and safety of their respective nationals in each other’s territories.

The meeting closed with a frank and fruitful exchange of views on regional and global developments affecting the political stability and economic progress of the Asia-Pacific region, and the evolving regional architecture therein.

Official Philippines-ROK relations date back to 1949, when the Philippines became one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with South Korea. A key driver of relations remains the spirit of friendship and solidarity forged in 1950, when the Philippines joined fifteen other UN Member States in actively defending South Korea in the Korean War in 1950 to 1953.

The ROK is one of the Philippines’ top investors, with major Korean companies such as Hanjin and KEPCO maintaining extensive operations in the Philippines, and contributing greatly to employment generation.

It is also the country’s top source of tourists, and is fast rising as one of the Philippines’ key partners in trade and development cooperation.

The PHL-ROK Political Consultations is the chief forum for extensive dialogue between the two countries’ Foreign Ministries, providing significant opportunities for advancing effective cooperation towards the attainment of common concerns and mutually-beneficial interests. END

Posted on May 25, 2011, DFA website