SEOUL, 15 February 2022 - Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, in her capacity as Council Director of the Philippines, took part in the 14th Annual Meeting of the Council of the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) held online on 14 February 2022. The Council reviewed and evaluated the performance and effectiveness of the Centre's FY2021 programs, as well as discussed and approved the proposed programs and budget for FY2022 at the Meeting.

During her intervention, Ambassador De Vega expressed appreciation for the active engagement and cooperation the ASEAN-Korea Centre developed through the years. She also extended appreciation to the New Southern Policy. The Philippines also reaffirmed its support for the programs of the coming years, noting that ASEAN-Korea Centre's 2022 priority programs mirror the Philippines' focus on connectivity, digital growth, and innovation. Ambassador De Vega hoped that this will include engagement and discussions of more diverse sectors, such as women entrepreneurs.

She noted that AKC's focus on the creative and knowledge industries is an important aspect of the economic pillar. On Culture and Tourism, Ambassador De Vega looked forward to participating actively in the ASEAN Center in Jeju and to seeing the Jeju ASEAN Hall come to fruition. She also commended the AKC's plans on tourism familiarization, capacity building and training workshops. She encouraged the Centre to introduce more programs for engagement for culture and tourism as a way forward of building back better.

Ambassador De Vega also looked forward to discussions on the results of the ASEAN-Korea Youth survey as an input for priorities going forward. She hoped that mobility between ASEAN and Korea youth continue to be active and engaged in the coming year despite pandemic restrictions, and underscored that mobility in this sector is an important pillar of ASEAN-Korea people-to-people relations. END