South Korea-Malaysia Ties To Further Expand With More Synergy Under Look East Policy

By Nabilah Salleh KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- New areas of cooperation can be further explored and utilised to enhance the synergy shared between Malaysia and South Korea. South Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung Bae said as the year 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy (LEP) between the two countries, it is timely now that both nations looked for a new growth driver for the policy. “All this while, the policy has been largely focused on the people-to-people exchanges and industrial cooperation. “I would like to see a new level of cooperation, and possible areas of engagement in the LEP to strengthen the partnerships. Both sides should identify cooperation that incorporate South Korea’s newly announced ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ and ‘Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative with Malaysia’s LEP’. “In line with such efforts, the bilateral relationship should be elevated to a ‘strategic partnership’ in order to achieve shared growth and prosperity.” Yeo said this in his opening remarks during the 6th Malaysia Scholars on Korea (MASK) Seminar, held here Tuesday. Themed “Building Closer Malaysia and South Korea ties through Challenges of the 21st Century”, the MASK seminar featured presentations and discussions by 10 experts from both countries specialising in different fields. On the same note, Yeo expressed his hope that South Korea’s LEP could be further expanded under the tenure of new Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “I am sure Anwar is well-aware of the LEP value because he was the country’s Deputy PM during the 90s. “With his comeback, it will be a big help for the future of this LEP to get revived,” he added. Yeo further noted its commitment to also engage regularly with think tanks and academics in Malaysia including ISIS to promote public diplomacy and continue with its efforts to deepen Malaysians’ understanding of Korea’s foreign policies including ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ and the ‘Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.’ The seminar, which was co-organised by the South Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, was attended by members of the MASK network, Malaysian government officials and diplomatic corps based in Malaysia. During the last month’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cambodia, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol introduced South Korea’s ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy, which is committed to principles of freedom, peace and prosperity built on a rules-based order for the region. Malaysia is the third-largest trade partner of South Korea in Southeast Asia. -- BERNAMA