1. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kim Hyoung-zhin will attend in his capacity as the Republic of Korea’s head delegate the Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOMs) of the ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM), which will take place in Luang Prabang, Laos, on May 7 and 8.

2. At the ASEAN+3 SOM on May 7, the participants will review progress in cooperation project in such fields as finance, economy and food security, as well as progress in the implementation of follow-up measures on the report by East Asia Vision Group II, which was formed at the initiative of the ROK.

3. The EAS is seen to have evolved over the past ten years into the best strategic forum in the region, where the leaders of the 18 countries seek ways to jointly address traditional and non-traditional security issues. Its upcoming SOM will cover progress in the implementation of measures agreed upon at the EAS meeting in 2015 as well as current regional and global issues, including those concerning North Korea’s nuclear program and the South China Sea.

4. At the ARF SOM on May 8, the participants will exchange views on key regional and global issues, including North Korea’s nuclear program, the South China Sea, and responses to terrorism and extremism. They will also comprehensively discuss cooperation activities in the fields of disaster relief, counterterrorism, international crimes, maritime security, disarmament and non-proliferation.

5. At the FLM SOM, which has been held since 2011 to exchange information among the FLMs, the delegates will share information on the progress and experiences in the cooperation in the Lower Mekong region and seek ways for substantive cooperation.

6. At the SOMs, which will come ahead of this year’s ASEAN-related foreign ministerial and summit meetings in July and September, respectively, the participants will discuss the agenda to be covered at the upcoming meetings in preparation for them.


* unofficial translation