HONG KONG (Yonhap News) ― Korea and Hong Kong have agreed to cooperate on customs services, officials here said Wednesday.

Joo Yung-sup, the commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, and Clement Cheung, the commissioner of Hong Kong Customs and Excise, signed the agreement Tuesday in Seoul on the sidelines of a customs cooperation conference between the two sides, Hong Kong officials said.

The conference offered a platform for the customs offices from South Korea and from Hong Kong to update the latest developments and discuss further cooperation between the two administrations, the officials said.

“The conference is a very successful one for the two administrations to exchange constructive ideas and initiatives,” Cheung said.

“With the long-standing co-operation between the two administrations, Hong Kong Customs will further take proactive initiatives to foster a closer and more strategic partnership with the Korean Customs to meet forthcoming challenges,” he added.

During the conference, the two sides also signed an Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement Action Plan, which will provide clearance facilitation to traders at the international level, the officials explained.

The Hong Kong commissioner and the Hong Kong Customs delegation are scheduled to return to Hong Kong later Wednesday.