ASEAN-REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Third ASEAN-ROK Dialogue was held in Manila in May 1997. The Joint Management Committee (JMC) for the ASEAN-ROK Special Cooperation Fund was held in March 1997 in Jakarta. Over the past year, two projects started implementation under the ASEAN-ROK cooperation, namely, Fourth Technology Transfer Programme in Agricultural Development and Exchange of Visits of ASEAN and Korean Officials. Implementation of other on-going projects, such as, the Research Project on Supporting the Establish-ment of S&T Manpower Development System and the International Cooperation Action Programme for Industrialisation in the ASEAN Nations continued.

Three other projects are scheduled for implementation in 1997, namely, (a) Workshop on Microelectronic Technology, (b) Study and Training Program on Korean Strategies for Trade Promotion, and (c) Workshops on Economic Planning and Policy Coordination and Private Sector-Led Development Strategies and their relevance to ASEAN Countries.

In addition to ROK's contribution to the Special Cooperation Fund (SCF) for FY 1996 of US$ 1 million, ROK also contributed US$ 350,000 for the implementation of the project, ASEAN-ROK Forum for the 21st Century. The Forum will hold a series of seminars and meetings over a period of eighteen months among eminent persons from both sides. The Forum is meant to explore ways and means of promoting ASEAN-ROK cooperation in the 21st century in the political, security, economic, science & technology and cultural fields.