By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak will embark on a six-day Southeast Asian trip next week to attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus three ― Korea, Japan and China ― in Thailand, and visit Vietnam and Cambodia, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.
It is Lee's second meeting in five months with the leaders of ASEAN, an economic bloc of 10 Southeast Asian countries. They met in the southern resort island of Jeju in June and agreed on various measures to strengthen bilateral economic relations and cultural exchanges.
In Thailand, Lee will discuss follow-up programs to foster closer ties, the presidential office announced.
The ASEAN+3 summit will also be a crucial opportunity for Asia to discuss ways to increase its say on global issues such as climate change, the food and energy crisis, and financial instability.
On his way to Thailand, President Lee will visit Vietnam and Cambodia for bilateral summits with their leaders.
Upon arrival in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, Tuesday, he will meet with young Vietnamese leaders and speak on ways to boost Korea-Vietnam relations.
The next day, Lee will hold a summit with President Nguyen Minh Triet and meet with senior officials, including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.
At the summit, the two countries are expected to sign an agreement to upgrade their diplomatic relations to a "strategic cooperative" partnership and strengthen joint economic projects. Lee may ask Hanoi to allow more Korean firms to participate in its infrastructure development projects.
Also on the agenda will be ways to increase cooperation in the areas of telecommunications, energy and culture, a Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson said.
Lee will then fly to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on Oct. 22 for a summit with Prime Minister Hun Sen on ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
During Lee's visit, the two countries will sign an extradition treaty to collaborate on international crimes. Korea will also agree to provide more funds to Cambodia to help its economic development.
Lee's trip will end in Thailand's Hua Hin where the ASEAN+3 meeting will be held from Oct. 24 to 25.
Lee will also attend the annual East Asia Summit that involves India, Australia, New Zealand and the ASEAN+3 countries.
Korea has established trade deals with all member nations of ASEAN, the country's third largest trade partner. Bilateral trade reached $90 billion in 2008.
The bloc is also Korea's second largest investment destination with $5.8 billion in 2008.