On 25 February, Australia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held virtually the inaugural Australia-ROK Senior Officials Policy Dialogue on our support for Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

Australia and the ROK are currently celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Our relations are underpinned by shared values and interests, complementary economies and strong people-to-people links. We both seek to support a stable, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

At the policy dialogue, officials discussed perspectives on regional developments, their priorities in Southeast Asia, engagement on ASEAN, the economic impact of COVID-19 on the region, regional health and economic recovery plans, maritime security and our engagement in the Mekong.

Officials agreed to deepen cooperation as Australia continues to invest in its Southeast Asian partnerships and the ROK implements its New Southern Policy Plus. We are enhancing vaccine access and delivery in Southeast Asia, including through the COVAX Facility Advance Market Commitment, prioritising Mekong water resources management, enhancing ASEAN's connectivity and maritime debris management capacity.

The Australian delegation was led by First Assistant Secretary Southeast Asia Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ridwaan Jadwat. The Korean delegation was led by Director General ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Park Jae-kyung.