By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Deputy Minister for International Affairs Choi Ji-young of the Ministry of Economy and Finance held a meeting with the Dean and CEO of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) Bambang Brodjonegoro at the Government Complex-Seoul to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between Korea and the ADBI on Sept. 22, 2025.

Deputy Minister Choi stated that the Korean government will continue to pursue international solidarity in line with the principle of pragmatism prioritizing national interest, with a particular focus on strengthening ties with the Global South.

He also conveyed his expectation that more Korean institutions and experts will actively participate in the activities of the ADBI. In addition, he noted that Korea plans to place a strong focus on advancing its leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), and emphasized the importance of stepping up partnership with the ADBI in areas such as capacity-building programs and research activities, particularly by sharing Korea’s AI technology and policy expertise.

Dean Brodjonegoro explained that since taking office in April this year, he has been prioritizing efforts to help developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region overcome the middle-income trap. He underscored that regional cooperation and integration are crucial in this regard, and expressed his hope to expand collaboration with Korea, which he described as a representative success case.

In response, Deputy Minister Choi highlighted Korea’s own development experience, noting that the country initiated its growth by bolstering infrastructure investment, and enhanced productivity through the introduction of foreign technologies and investment in research and development.

Korea then turned the Asian financial crisis into an opportunity by undertaking comprehensive reforms. He also mentioned that he expects many Korean research institutes, universities, and experts to take part in the ADBI’s research on overcoming the middle-income trap and its knowledge-sharing activities, thereby broadly disseminating Korea’s experience and expertise.

 
ADBI is a think tank and subsidiary of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), conducts research on development strategies in Asia and the Pacific and provides capacity-building programs.