By Kang Gahui and Yoon Sojung 

President Moon Jae-in discussed cooperation for the New Southern Policy with the leaders of Brunei Darussalam and Laos on Nov. 14 in Singapore. 

President Moon had a series of summits with leaders on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits. 

While meeting Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, President Moon praised Brunei’s role as ASEAN’s dialogue coordinator with Korea. 

He asked for Brunei’s support for Seoul’s New Southern Policy which his administration has been carrying out in order to remarkably develop Korea-ASEAN relations. 

The two leaders also agreed to cooperate in infrastructure construction and in the information, communications and technology sectors. 

ASEAN has been appointing countries for the role of dialogue coordinator, apart from the chair country, in order to fine-tune negotiations with dialogue partners. Brunei Darussalam will serve the role from this August to August 2021 for the dialogue with Korea. 

Later that day, President Moon held talks with Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos. President Moon told the Laotian leader that, “Laos is a core partner country of the New Southern Policy Korea has been pushing forward, and we hope to build a firm cooperative partnership.”

“Korea hopes to contribute to infrastructure construction in Laos in the future as it has been doing in the Mekong River region,” said President Moon. 

President Moon expressed condolences for the victims of the dam collapse this past July, referring to the hydroelectric dam being built by SK Engineering & Construction and other Korean firms. The president said that “Korea will do its utmost to help Laos rebuild and restore from the incident.” 

Laotian Prime Minister Sisoulith expressed his gratitude to President Moon, saying that, “The people of Laos highly value Korea’s unsparing support for Laos after the incident.”