Seoul: Senior foreign ministry officials from South Korea and Malaysia convened in Seoul for policy consultation talks on Wednesday, reaching an agreement to enhance cooperation in nuclear energy and other strategic fields, as confirmed by South Korea's foreign ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the consensus emerged during the 10th South Korea-Malaysia Policy Consultation Meeting. The meeting was attended by First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Tan Sri Amran Bin Mohamed Zin, the secretary general of Malaysia's foreign ministry. The officials discussed strategies to bolster strategic cooperation in nuclear energy and ensure stable supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum products, aiming to enhance regional energy security.

Both countries expressed optimism that the upcoming free trade agreement (FTA), which they are working to finalize within this year, will further expand bilateral trade. This agreement is anticipated to provide an institutional foundation for broader cooperation in emerging industries, such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, and green industries.

Additionally, the officials noted progress in cooperation within the defense and arms industry sectors. This advancement is based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation, with efforts underway to establish a joint defense cooperation committee this year, as stated by the ministry.