PASAY CITY (PIA) — Focusing on a deeper partnership, research, and policy collaboration, the 13th Korea-ASEAN Community of Policy Exchange International Public Policy Symposium was held at the Conrad Manila Hotel on Friday.
Hosted by the Korea Research Initiatives at the University of New South Wales, in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) and the UP Korea Research Center (UP KRC), the 2026 Korea-ASEAN Community of Policy Exchange (KACPE) International Public Policy Symposium on 13th Korea-ASEAN Community of Policy Exchange International Public Policy Symposium gathered policymakers, academics, and researchers from all over Southeast Asia, Korea, and Australia to share development experiences and explore pathways for cooperation.
In his welcome remarks, University of the Philippines President Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez said that an effective policy can pave the way to national development.
Jimenez said the event provides an important venue for policy makers, academic researchers, and practitioners to discuss how societies can achieve sustainable and inclusive development.
He said national development does not take place in isolation. He also underscored how policies are built that can stand in the changing times and how it benefits the people.
Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, in her keynote speech delivered by DFA Undersecretary for Administration Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, underscored the ASEAN and the Republic of Korea partnership.
Lazaro noted the need to sustain development, strengthen economic resilience, and ensure that it can benefit the people.
She cited the very robust relations of the Philippines with Korea.
De Vega, meanwhile, said, “We have cooperation in innovation, technology, digitalization of government services, and also very strong programs in the creative industries, and youth empowerment including exchanges of journalists and students, and academics,” as she also highlighted the country’s strong cooperation on defense and security matters.
The Korea Research Initiatives at the University of New South Wales was established in 2000 with a mission to foster Korean Studies in Southeast Asia. Supported by its Southeast Asian partners, KRI currently comprises approximately 22 university researchers and 80 researchers from Southeast Asia, representing diverse sectors including governments, public institutions, and academia. It maintains partnerships with around 120 entities across various domains in Southeast Asia.
KRI launched the Comparative Public Policy Research Forum (CPPR) in 2010, which evolved into the Korea-ASEAN Community of Policy Exchange (KACPE) in 2019. KACPE is an independent, non-governmental platform facilitating two-track 1.5 dialogues among senior policymakers, researchers, and academics from Korea and ASEAN.
It promotes policy exchange in areas such as governance reform, economic and industrial development, socio-cultural affairs, and regional security. Over the past 15 years, KACPE has engaged over 6,390 participants from 1,460 institutions, establishing itself as a leading platform for Korea-ASEAN cooperation. (JEG/PIA-NCR)
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