Sejong, 30 September 2024 — H.E. Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) met with H.E. Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) in the city of Sejong, South Korea on 30 September 2024. The two ministers discussed the ways for multilateral cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as the ways for the ROK-Lao PDR cooperation. They also amended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation between the agriculture ministries of both countries.
As the chair of the ASEAN, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has been playing a pivotal role in cooperation in the ASEAN region under the theme of ‘Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.’ With the year 2024 marking the 35th anniversary of AEAN-ROK dialogue relations, the partnership between the two countries is expected to advance to the highest level.
H.E. Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Lao PDR asked for support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the ROK, saying: “The key to the agricultural cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN lies in the Mekong River. In Laos, many of the economically-active population are engaging in agriculture. Therefore, development of the agriculture sector is important.”
* The Mekong River runs through the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Kingdom of Cambodia among ASEAN member states.
H.E. Minister Song Miryung of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said: “The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea has contributed to improvement in agricultural productivity of Laos through diverse official development assistance programmes such as building of irrigation facilities, transfer of crop cultivation know-how, etc. This has also served as an opportunity for South Korea’s agricultural technologies, equipment, and machinery to enter the market of Laos.”
Minister Song added: “The amendment to the MoU between both sides has expanded the range of bilateral cooperation to include smart farming, seeds, etc. Accordingly, the significant outcomes from this expanded cooperation are highly expected.”
Minister Song also said that the MAFRA will actively participate in multilateral cooperation with the ASEAN and contribute to enhancing the food security in the region.