Trade minister to attend G20 trade ministerial meeting in Brazil

Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo speaks during a meeting in Sejong, in this picture provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Oct. 21. Yonhap

Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo plans to attend a Group of 20 (G20) trade ministerial meeting in Brazil this week to discuss sustainable trade and investment, the trade ministry said Thursday.

Cheong is scheduled to participate in the G20 meeting in Brasilia on Thursday (Brazil time), where members will discuss strengthening the multilateral trade system and promoting sustainable development, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

During the meeting, the minister plans to emphasize the importance of a multilateral trade regime led by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and call for the support of G20 members for reforms to the WTO dispute settlement system.

Cheong will also share the Korean government's efforts to increase women's participation in international trade as part of its focus on inclusive economic growth, the ministry added.

The trade minister will seek the G20 members' support for Korea's Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) initiative as well, which was announced by President Yoon Suk Yeol last year to address climate change.

The CFE initiative focuses on achieving carbon neutrality by utilizing carbon-free energy sources, including nuclear and hydrogen power.

On the sidelines of the event, Cheong plans to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from Brazil, the United States, Britain and the United Arab Emirates. (Yonhap)