- Official event of the Pacific Islands Summit sets the stage for cooperation in the ICT sector

  The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) hosted the "Digital Ministerial Meeting of the Pacific Island Countries of Korea and the Pacific Islands" on May 31, at the InterContinental Coex Hotel in Seoul.

  MSIT has been holding the Ministerial Meeting every year since 2005 to strengthen policy cooperation in the ICT sector and to support Korean companies' overseas expansion with several countries including Asia-Pacific and Latin America. As the Korea-Pacific Island Countries Summit marked a new turning point in Korea's cooperation with countries in the Pacific region, this year MSIT organized the first ministerial meeting to reinforce the ICT cooperation with Pacific Island countries.

  The meeting was attended by ministers and deputy ministers of digital affairs from seven countries, including Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Cook Islands, Republic of Nauru, Kiribati, and Samoa, as well as representatives from the Australian Embassy and the World Bank Country Office in Korea.

  Under the theme of "Solidarity for Digital Co-Prosperity," the ministers shared policy visions and experiences of their respective countries in the era of digital transformation, and discussed innovation across the Pacific region.

  In his opening remarks, MSIT Minister Jong-ho Lee said, "Korea and the Pacific Island Countries are neighbors connected by the physical space of the Pacific Ocean, but we are looking forward to a new level of connectivity across time and space through digital." In response to the new paradigm where digital is the foundation of all innovation - economic, social, and cultural - the Korean government highlighted that the digital transformation should pursue universal human values such as freedom, human rights, and solidarity. Furthermore, the Minister expressed Korea's commitment to the international community to reduce the digital divide so that everyone can enjoy the benefits and opportunities offered by the digital transformation.

  Jason Alford, World Bank Country Director for Korea, congratulated the first-ever Digital Ministers' Meeting between Korea and the Pacific Island Countries, commended Korea's efforts to bridge the digital divide in the Asia-Pacific region, and emphasized the need for digital cooperation in the region.

  In the keynote presentation, Kim Sung-kyu, Director-general of Multinational Cooperation Division at MSIT, introduced the "Digital Strategy of the Republic of Korea and the Direction of International Cooperation" as a policy roadmap to become a global digital innovation model country, and Zaki Khoury, Senior Director of the World Bank Korea Office, presented the "Status of Digital Development and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region" promoted by the World Bank.

 Minister Lee released the "Chairman's Statement of the Korea-Pacific Island Countries Digital Ministers' Meeting," which summarizes the outcomes of the meeting. The Chairman's Statement summarizes the outcomes of the meeting, stating that "we will work to promote a secure, resilient, and open digital ecosystem; recognize the importance of the policy challenge of achieving high-quality and meaningful connectivity for all; agree that continued digital solidarity for inclusive and sustainable development is key to the future prosperity of Korea and the Pacific Islands; and look forward to continued digital partnership and cooperation."

 Minister Lee held bilateral meetings with ministers from Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and other participating countries during the ministerial meeting, requesting their support for the 2030 Busan World Expo and interest and support for Korean companies to enter the market.

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4033, E-mail: yunay@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.