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| President Moon Jae-in participated in a virtual summit with the leaders of Japan, China and 10 Southeast Asian countries, Saturday, and stressed the need for closer partnerships for health care and economic growth. Yonhap |
President Moon Jae-in participated in a virtual summit with leaders of Japan, China and 10 Southeast Asian countries, Saturday, and stressed the need for closer partnerships for health care and economic growth.
"As the COVID-19 situation is being prolonged, there's an increasing number of problems that we have to resolve together," Moon said, delivering opening remarks at the annual ASEAN Plus Three Summit. ASEAN stands for the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Other participants included Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. It set the stage for Moon's first meeting with Suga, albeit via video links, since he became Japan's prime minister in September. Moon began his statement with a special greeting to the prime minister
Moon then suggested that the 13 members of the group, launched in response to the 1997 Asia-wide financial crisis, upgrade their health care cooperation and make joint efforts for the development and fair supply of coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
"We need to establish a quick and transparent coordination system in preparation for new infectious diseases that can occur anytime," Moon said.
Regarding the economy, he also called for "preemptive" preparations for the post-coronavirus world.
He cited concerns about a wave of protectionism, uncertainty in financial markets and the possible expansion of inequality amid an accelerating transition to digital economies.
"Those are problems hard to solve with the power of a single nation," he added. "We should strengthen the resilience of the economy and pool wisdom to find a way for inclusive and sustainable growth."
Moon expressed hope that the ASEAN Plus Three group will play a role in the post-coronavirus development of the global economy.
After making the brief remarks in front of pool reporters, Moon went into closed-door discussions, in which he was quoted as emphasizing the importance of free trade and multilateralism for the recovery of trade and investment hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also voiced hope that the cross-border exchanges of "essential" personnel will be expanded at a level to not obstruct coronavirus prevention measures in place, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Moon cited "fast-track" and "special entry procedures" for business people, which South Korea has adopted in cooperation with several countries, Kang said in a press briefing.
Later in the day, he's scheduled to participate in a broader ASEAN-hosted session, called the East Asia Summit (EAS) ― also held via videoconference ― which includes the United States, Russia, Australia, India and New Zealand.
President Donald Trump is skipping the event, and his national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, plans to represent the U.S. (Yonhap)
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