South Korea plans to double its contribution to a cooperation fund with Pacific Island countries (PICs) from next year in a bid to cope with climate change, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.
   
Seoul has provided US$500,000 to the Korea-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Cooperation Fund that was set up in 2008 in an effort to enhance partnerships with 14 island countries.
  
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se announced the pledge ahead of him meeting foreign ministers from the Pacific Island countries.
   
"This meeting provides Korea and PICs an excellent opportunity to broaden our diplomatic horizons," Yun said in his opening remarks.
   
The talks, the second of their kind, will mainly discuss development cooperation, climate change and maritime issues, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.
  
Seoul has said that the meeting will hep promote its push for mini-lateral diplomacy as well as enhance cooperation in the areas of fisheries and maritime resources development.
  

Yun introduced Seoul's efforts to increase official development assistance (ODA) as the first country in the world that has become a donor country from an aid recipient due to the 1950-53 Korean War.
   
"We've have continued to raise our aid budget. In this regard, I'm pleased to announce our plans to double contributions to the Korea-Pacific Islands Forum Cooperation Fund from next year."
   
At a time when climate change poses a threat to the Pacific Islands, Yun said that South Korea is also committed to working on such daunting tasks through United Nations mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund.
   
Yun said that the Monday talks will help "collect insight, wisdom and determination to strengthen collaboration to build up an inclusive and enduring partnership."
   
On the sidelines of the talks, Yun plans to hold a bilateral meeting with his counterparts from Fiji and Papua New Guinea, respectively, the ministry said.
   
The Pacific Islands consist of 12 nations and two of New Zealand's dominions, the Cook Islands and Niue. They are grouped into the three areas of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia in terms of geography and culture. (Yonhap)