An international organization charged with invigorating ties between Korea and Southeast Asia held its 5th annual council meeting and a reception for the diplomatic community at a hotel in downtown Seoul, Thursday and Friday.

The 5th Annual Council Meeting of the ASEAN-Korea Centre met Thursday afternoon to take stock of its activities and development in 2012 hosting a reception that evening at Lotte Hotel. It then charted its work programs on Friday for the coming year starting in March.

The council is the top decision-making body of ASEAN-Korea Centre, composed of directors appointed by the 10 Southeast Asian member countries and Korea. 

Nearly all the ambassadors of Southeast Asian diplomatic missions in Korea took part in the reception hosted by Ahn Ho-yeong, 1st vice minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as envoys from Georgia, Angola, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

Southeast Asia and Korea raised relations to a strategic partnership in 2010. So, the ASEAN-Korea Centre was tasked to serve as a key channel to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN member states and Korea, the center said.

Leaders at the Southeast Asian and Korean confab also celebrated the center’s 4th anniversary. Officials at the center said the ASEAN-Korea Centre greatly contributed to enhancing ASEAN-Korea ties through its programs that increase trade and investment, and facilitate tourism and cultural exchanges between ASEAN and Korea since its establishment in March 2009.

ASEAN has become Korea’s 2nd largest trading partner, 2nd largest destination for both construction orders and overall foreign direct investment from Korea and 2nd most popular tourist destination for Koreans.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)