Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) discusses diplomatic strategy between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore and Malaysia

[Financial News]  Ahead of its official launch, HUFS's Institute of International Strategy (HIIS) held a policy dialogue in Singapore and Malaysia to discuss ways for Korea and ASEAN to cooperate in diplomacy, security and the economy.
HUFS announced on the 11th that it had held policy dialogues with experts from local universities and policy research institutions in Singapore on the 2nd and Malaysia on the 4th. This event was organized as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)'s “1.5-Track Policy Dialogue with the International Eminent Persons Group for Formulating Diplomatic Strategies” initiative.
In Singapore, experts from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University and the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS) attended and discussed ASEAN's diplomatic strategy amid strategic competition between the United States and China. The Korean side included Cho Won-deuk, director of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy's ASEAN-India Studies Center, and Lee Jae-mook, a professor in HUFS's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, among others.
Participants shared how ASEAN has maintained strategic autonomy amid competition among major powers and considered the implications for Korea's diplomatic strategy. At a roundtable attended by representatives of companies including Naver Cloud and Pa-in Energy, they also discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, critical minerals and energy.
The policy dialogue at the University of Malaya in Malaysia was attended by Awang Azman Awang Pawi, dean of the Malay Academy; Yu Hyun-seok, a former ambassador to Malaysia; and Kim Kang-seok, head of HUFS's Office of External Relations, among others. Drawing on Malaysia's experience with pragmatic diplomacy, they discussed ways to expand diplomatic, security and economic cooperation between Korea and ASEAN.
HUFS President Kang Ki-hoon sent video remarks congratulating participants at both events and said, “I hope the Institute of International Strategy will grow into a world-class policy research institution, drawing on HUFS's accumulated expertise in area studies around the world.”
Starting with these policy dialogues, HUFS's Institute of International Strategy plans to expand cooperation with overseas universities and policy research institutions and strengthen research in diplomacy, security, and economic and trade affairs.


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