EU, ROK sign new framework agreement for bilateral relations

The European Union (EU) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Monday signed a new framework agreement, aimed at boosting bilateral relations.

At the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council held here on Monday, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton, and ROK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan signed the framework agreement.

The ROK is "a key like-minded partner" in an increasingly important part of the world, Ashton said. "The signing of a new framework agreement is an important step in our relations."

According to the high representative, the agreement addresses a broad range of global issues and areas of international concern, including non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, counter-terrorism, climate change, energy security and development assistance.

Together with an ambitious and comprehensive Free-Trade Agreement (FTA), the framework agreement will establish a good basis for strengthened partnership between the EU and the ROK as global players, Ashton added.

Source:Xinhua