SYDNEY, May 31 (Reuters) - South Korean and Pacific Islands leaders agreed to strengthen development and security cooperation after a two-day summit where Seoul said it would double development assistance by 2027.
A joint declaration from the first Korea-Pacific Islands Summit, held in Seoul, recognised shared values of "freedom, democracy, the rule of law, human rights" and the "rules-based regional and international order".
"The Leaders acknowledge the need to strengthen development cooperation and security collaboration including maritime security, climate security, energy security, cyber security, human security, public health and transnational security," it said.
South Korea also said it would double the scale of its development assistance to Pacific Island Countries by 2027, and supported the Pacific Islands push to preserve their maritime zones - a vital source of fishing revenue - even if climate change causes small island states to disappear beneath rising seas.
It was the third summit in a week between Pacific Island leaders and a large economy, following meetings with India and the United States.
Persons:
Yoon Suk Yeol, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln
Organizations:
SYDNEY, Pacific Islands, Pacific Islands Summit, Pacific, Thomson
Locations:
Seoul, Korea, United States, Asia, South, Pacific, South Korea, India