Congratulatory Remarks by H.E. Amb. Kim Hong Kyun Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea On the Occasion of The 3rd Korea-Australia Future Forum, November[...]

Congratulatory Remarks by H.E. Amb. Kim Hong Kyun

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

The 3rd Korea-Australia Future Forum, November 1st 2024, Seoul

Ladies and Gentlemen,

His Excellency Jeff Robinson,Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Korea,

Ambassador Ghee-whan Kim, President of the Korea Foundation,

Mr. Peter Coleman, Chair of the Australia-Korea Foundation,

Distinguished Guests,

Good morning.

It is a great pleasure to join you at the 3rd Korea-Australia Future Forum. I would like to express

my sincere gratitude to the Korea Foundation and the Australia-Korea Foundation for organizing

this meaningful event.

Above all, it is a great honor for me to speak to you today about the special and important

partnership between Korea and Australia.

The history of Korea-Australia relations goes back much further than the formal establishment

of diplomatic ties in 1961.

When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Australia was the second country, only after

the United States, to commit its forces to defend the Republic of Korea.

On a broader scale, the Korean War was one of the first challenges to the rules-based

international order that emerged after World War II.

Today, more than 70 years later,

we find ourselves navigating one of the most challenging global landscapes since the end of that war.

Geopolitical tensions between major powers, the situation in Ukraine and the illegal military

cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are

hreatening the very norms and principles that have sustained peace and prosperity for decades.

In these turbulent times, the partnership between Korea and Australia, two nations that share

democratic values and similar strategic visions, is more crucial than ever, and we are committed

to translating this alignment into concrete cooperation in the key areas.

The continued strengthening of our bilateral relations is evident in the high-level exchanges that

have taken place over this year, such as the 2+2 Ministerial Meeting, Foreign Minister Wong's visit

to Korea, and our Leaders' meeting on the margins of the East Asia Summit (EAS).

These consecutive high-level meetings demonstrate the unwavering commitment of both nations

to deepening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

In the defense sector, our collaboration has seen remarkable growth.

Australia is the second country, only after the United States, with which Korea has held 2+2

Ministerial Meetings since 2013.

Our military's participation in Australia's Talisman Sabre exercise last year underscores the depth

of our defense cooperation.

Moreover, Korean companies like Hanwha are making significant contributions to Australia's

military modernization through projects like the K-9 Self-Propelled Howitzer and the Redback

Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

We believe Australia's General Purpose Frigates Program could be another opportunity to

strengthen our defense and defense industry collaboration.

Beyond defense, our two countries have fostered strong economic partnership based on

the Korea-Australia FTA (KAFTA), and we are pleased to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year.

We are closely cooperating in critical mineral resources that are vital for the production of batteries,

and we are strengthening our collaboration in renewable energy and clean hydrogen.

Looking beyond our bilateral relationship, Korea and Australia share a common interest

in upholding the rules-based order in the region and beyond.

This was evident when our two nations stood together by adopting the IP4 Leaders Joint

Statement in July, which strongly condemns illegal military cooperation between Russia

and North Korea.

Furthermore, we are expanding our cooperation in partnerships with ASEAN and the

Pacific Island Countries. We are also working closely together to promote partnership

among like-minded countries including through the IP4 (Indo-Pacific Four) and AUKUS Pillar 2,

and collaborating in the United Nations, NATO, the G7 plus and G20.

Last but not least, the relationship between Korea and Australia is not only about strategic

interests; it is also about the deep connections between our peoples.

A prime example is the world-renowned K-pop group NewJeans, which includes two

Australian members, Danielle and Hanni. They clearly showcase the depth of this connection.

The Korean community in Australia and the dynamic exchange of students, young professionals,

and workers are the lifeblood of our bilateral ties. In 2023 alone, 198,000 Australians visited Korea,

while 288,000 Koreans traveled to Australia. Also, approximately 160,000 Koreans reside in Australia,

making it the seventh-largest country by Korean diaspora overseas.

These exchanges foster mutual understanding and lay the groundwork for even stronger

future relations.

As we look ahead, I am confident that the partnership between Korea and Australia will continue

to grow deeper and more robust.

Our shared values, strategic vision, and commitment to each other ensure that we are building

a future not just for ourselves, but for the region and the world as well.

And I hope the 3rd Korea-Australia Future Forum will serve as an valuable opportunity to

make useful suggestions for the our bilateral relations.

Thank you very much. /END/

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