S. Korean president set for talks with ASEAN, Japan, China

By Byun Duk-kun
HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was
set for a summit Saturday with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN), focusing on improving his country's ties with the 10 member nations of
the regional group.
Lee arrived in this eastern resort city of Hua Hin late Friday from Cambodia,
where he had made a two-day state visit. The president is on a three-nation tour
that also took him to Vietnam.
The South Korean president will also participate in an ASEAN Plus Three summit
later in the day with the leaders of Japan and China.
In addition to the three countries on Lee's itinerary, ASEAN includes Brunei,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and the Philippines.
"The president's trip will help strengthen our active cooperation with ASEAN
countries in dealing with international issues such as the economic crisis and
climate change," Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for Seoul's presidential office, told
reporters.
The ASEAN countries are at the center of South Korea's "New Asia Initiative,"
through which Seoul seeks to promote mutual interests in the international
community and build a regional community.
Lee hosted a special ASEAN summit on South Korea's resort island of Jeju in June.
The participating leaders will join on Sunday a larger regional conference, the
East Asia Summit, also involving the leaders of India, Australia and New Zealand.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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