Sydney, May 31 (BNA): South Korean and Pacific Island leaders agreed to boost development and security cooperation after a two-day summit where Seoul said it would double development aid by 2027.
A joint declaration issued at the first Korea-Pacific Island Summit, held in Seoul, recognized the shared values of “freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights” and “a rules-based regional and international order.”
“Peace and stability in the Pacific region are linked to global peace and stability,” said a statement released after the summit between South Korean President Yoon Sok-yol and 17 Pacific Islands Forum leaders and representatives.
“The leaders recognized the need to enhance development cooperation and security cooperation, including maritime security, climate security, energy security, cyber security, human security, public health, and transnational security,” she said.
South Korea has also said it will double the amount of its development aid to Pacific island nations by 2027, and has backed Pacific islanders’ efforts to preserve their marine areas — a vital source of fishing revenue — even if climate change causes small island nations to disappear beneath them. Sea level rise.
This is the third summit in a week between Pacific island leaders and a major economy, after meetings with India and the United States.
The statement said that South Korea and the Pacific islands share the view that the ocean should be kept free of radioactive waste, and the need for international consultation and scientific evaluation, referring to concern about Japan’s plan to release water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.
MI