Korea discusses economic security, energy cooperation with Canada, Australia, New Zealand

MANILA — Korea held separate foreign ministers' talks with Canada, Australia and New Zealand in Manila on Wednesday, discussing ways to expand cooperation in economic security, energy, defense and other strategic sectors amid geopolitical uncertainties, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on the sidelines of a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related ministerial meetings in the Philippine capital, according to the ministry. Cho and Anand discussed ways to advance the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership and to expand practical cooperation in a range of fields, including defense, the arms industry, energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI). The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security and critical mineral supply chains, including imports of Canadian crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while also exploring ways to expand collaboration in AI research and in