By UN Journal Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is in Vientiane, Laos, for the ASEAN-related summit, held his first summit with Thailand's new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Oct. 10.
 

The President congratulated Prime Minister Paetongtarn on her inauguration in September and expressed his hope that during her tenure as Prime Minister, the two countries will significantly strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, electric vehicles, defense, defense, and people-to-people exchanges. 

The President also requested the Prime Minister's interest and support for the speedy conclusion of the Korea-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which began negotiations this year, and the smooth construction of the Korea-Thailand Joint Industrial Complex. 

The President expressed encouragement that the horizons of bilateral cooperation are expanding in the field of clean energy, such as Hyundai Motor's construction of an electric vehicle factory in Thailand, and called for further strengthening defense cooperation based on mutual trust.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn expressed her agreement to further expand and develop the active bilateral cooperation, including defense and defense industry cooperation, and said she would do her best to do so as the new Prime Minister. 

She said she would work to ensure that the Korea-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement is negotiated and entered into force as soon as possible, and that she would continue to support Korean companies in areas such as electric vehicles. She also hoped to further strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation with Korea, a soft power.

The two leaders welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the ASEAN-ROK Summit, which lays a solid foundation for strengthening ASEAN-ROK cooperation. 

President Yoon expressed his hope that Thailand will play an important role in strengthening ASEAN-ROK cooperation as the ASEAN Dialogue Facilitation Unit, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn responded that she will work closely together in expanding strategic and practical cooperation between ASEAN and Thailand.