(Yonhap Interview) ASEAN leaders to explore ways for Asia to become global

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, May 31 (Yonhap) -- Asia as a region can play a leading role in global free
trade, and its leaders will seek ways for the region to become the world's future
"growth engine" when they meet for a special summit next week, Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said.
Arroyo, responding to North Korea's nuclear test last week, underscored
Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions were "unacceptable" and that Manila backs Seoul and
the international community's efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.
The Philippine president arrived here Saturday on her second state visit to
Seoul. She will attend a special two-day summit starting Monday between Lee and
leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the
southern resort island of Jeju. The summit marks the 20th anniversary of
dialogue partnership between South Korea and the regional body.
"At the ASEAN-Korean Commemorative Summit in Jeju, the leaders of ASEAN and its
partner countries, including Korea, will address ways to further strengthen our
relationship and cooperation to enhance regional economic development and
security," Arroyo said in an written interview with Yonhap News Agency.
"But more importantly, we will focus on discussing the prospects of Asia as a
growth engine of the global economy and the role that we can play in driving free
and open trade. This is especially true as all our nations continue to face those
challenges arising from the global economy," she said.
South Korean and ASEAN trade ministers are scheduled to sign an agreement on
investment. A free trade agreement on merchandise took effect last year and a
similar deal on services was put into effect in early May.
ASEAN is South Korea's fifth-largest trading partner. South Korea currently has
free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore, and the agreement with the United
States is awaiting parliamentary ratification.
The Philippine president emphasized that South Korea's relationship with the
ASEAN has already reached "new heights" and that the relation "was strong and
invaluable to the entire region." She predicted that positive relations will
continue for many years to come.
On the North Korean nuclear issue, Arroyo stressed that her country "stands
shoulder to shoulder with our South Korean brethren in seeking a nuclear-free
Korean Peninsula" and gave full endorsement of a six-party diplomatic apparatus
aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear development.
"The Philippines is a staunch supporter of the dialogue process to resolve the
nuclear issue just as we are using soft power as a part of our new paradigm for
peace in the Southern Philippines," she said.
Arroyo called for a "diplomatic solution to this standoff" and urged North Korea
to return to the negotiating table for "the greater benefit of peace and
stability in the region."
"We, as are the rest of the region, stand ready to provide any assistance to move
closer toward a diplomatic resolution to this long-standing issue," she said.
The United Nations Security Council is negotiating a resolution to condemn the
North's second nuclear last week and impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on
the communist nation.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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