1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin, who is on a visit to Malaysia, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar bin Ibrahim on the afternoon of May 2 and then had a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Zambry bin Abd Kadir, in which the two sides discussed ways to strengthen substantive cooperation and strategic communication between the two countries, as they mark the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy this year.

2. In his courtesy call on Prime Minister Anwar in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, Foreign Minister Park appreciated that the two countries, as the best partners that share values such as democracy and market economy, have developed solid cooperative relations in a range of fields over the past 60 years.

3. In addition, Foreign Minister Park explained that the Korean government announced the Indo-Pacific Strategy, its first comprehensive regional strategy, late last year and also came up with details of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), a regional policy tailored to ASEAN, which is Korea’s key cooperation partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Foreign Minister Park also expressed the Korean government’s will to establish mutually-beneficial and comprehensive cooperation networks with ASEAN, including Malaysia. In response, Prime Minister Anwar welcomed the Korean government's unwavering commitment to strengthen Partnership with ASEAN and offered to cooperate actively to continue strengthening the Korea-ASEAN relations.

4. The two sides took note that cooperation between the two countries is continuing to strengthen in infrastructure, including the Kuala Lumpur Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project and the construction of the Merdeka 118 tower, as well as in the defense industry, where bilateral cooperation is best exemplified by the FA-50 export contract signed in February. They agreed to continue further accelerating mutually-beneficial cooperation.

5. In addition, Foreign Minister Park asked for Prime Minister Anwar's attention and support for the Korean companies so that Korean companies with world-class technology and experience can actively participate in new infrastructure projects such as Kuala Lumpur Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line 3.

6. Regarding Korea’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan, Foreign Minister Park shared the detailed results of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)’s recent visit to Korea and due diligence on Busan, and asked the Malaysian government to consider supporting Busan, taking into account Busan’s ability to host the event, the Korean government's full support, and the people's united enthusiasm.

7. In the Korea-Malaysia Foreign Ministers’ meeting, held after the courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Foreign Ministers Park and Zambry discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, including substantive economic cooperation and high-level exchanges. They also exchanged views on ways to enhance the Korea-ASEAN relations under Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI), as well as key regional and global affairs, including issues on the Korean Peninsula.

8. The two Foreign Ministers appreciated that the two countries have developed the friendly and cooperative relations in a variety of areas, including political, economic, social and cultural affairs, over the past 60 years, and agreed to work to make more progress in bilateral relations, including by revitalizing people-to-people exchanges as well as high-level exchanges, with this year marking the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy between Korea and Malaysia.

9. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Park mentioned that he was pleased to see the signing of the FA-50 export contract in February, and proposed continuing to step up cooperation in the defense industry between the two countries. He also offered to expand bilateral cooperation beyond traditional manufacturing and infrastructure sectors to future-oriented areas, such as cutting-edge technology and climate change response, and complete practical preparations for upgrading the bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership" in the future.

10. Foreign Minister Park also said that he is pleased that the two countries agreed to discuss the establishment of the “Korea-Malaysia climate change dialogue” this year to respond to climate change, and asked for the Malaysian government's support and interest in cooperation in the eco-friendly energy sector, including the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project for cross-border transportation and storage of carbon dioxide, which is being pursued by the companies of the two countries for the first time in Asia.

11. In addition, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to work closely together on the resumption of negotiations on the Korea-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on critical raw material cooperation, the export of halal Korean beef, and the official opening of a consular office in Kota Kinabalu.

12. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Park explained the details of the Korean government's Indo-Pacific Strategy and Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) announced late last year and called for support and cooperation from Malaysia, Korea's main partner in ASEAN. In response, Foreign Minister Zambry welcomed and actively supported the Korean government's new diplomatic initiative and policy.

13. The two Foreign Ministers shared the view that a series of provocations by North Korea pose a serious threat to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, but also of the entire international community. Foreign Minister Park explained that the ROK government  will respond firmly to provocations by North Korea, and at the same time, will keep the door open for dialogue on North Korea’s denuclearization based on the Audacious Initiative, and Foreign Minister Zambry expressed support for the ROK government's efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula.