June 6-11 Philippines, Singapore, Laos Tour
Attending 'ASEAN+3' Summit... Discussing Cooperation
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN
Planning First Summit Meeting with Japanese PM Ishiba
Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is briefing on President Yoon Seok-yeol's visit to the Philippines and Singapore, as well as attendance at the Laos ASEAN-related summit, at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol will visit the Philippines, Singapore, and Laos sequentially from the 6th to the 11th. During this period, he will attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) +3 (South Korea, China, Japan) Summit and is also expected to hold his first Korea-Japan summit with Japan's new Prime Minister Ishiba.
Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, announced this during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 3rd. President Yoon's wife, Kim Geon-hee, will also accompany him on the trip.
President Yoon will make state visits to the Philippines and Singapore to strengthen bilateral cooperation focusing on expanding trade and investment, and will attend the ASEAN Summit in Laos.
First, President Yoon will depart from Seoul on the 6th and arrive in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, in the afternoon of the same day. He plans to lay a wreath at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in the Philippines and attend a dinner meeting with the Korean community.
On the 7th, the schedule includes laying a wreath at the monument of Philippine independence hero Jos? Rizal, an official welcoming ceremony with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his spouse at Malaca?ang Palace, a summit meeting with President Marcos, a state luncheon, and the Korea-Philippines Business Forum.
Deputy Director Kim said, "This state visit to the Philippines is the first in about 13 years since former President Lee Myung-bak in November 2011," adding, "It will be an opportunity to elevate bilateral cooperation to a new level as this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations."
Next, on the morning of the 8th, President Yoon will begin his state visit schedule in Singapore with an official welcoming ceremony. After a meeting with the head of state, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, he will hold a summit with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to discuss ways to enhance practical cooperation between the two countries.
Following this, he will attend the orchid naming ceremony with Prime Minister Wong and his spouse, a friendly luncheon, meet with former prime ministers, visit sites of Korean business ventures, and participate in the Korea-Singapore Business Forum. On the same evening, he will attend a state dinner hosted by President Tharman and deliver a speech at the Singapore Lecture event hosted by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies on the 9th.
Deputy Director Kim stated, "This visit signifies evolving the cooperation paradigm between the two countries ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations," adding, "Over the past half-century, the two countries have closely cooperated centered on trade and investment, and will expand cooperation into AI and digital advanced technology sectors."
He further added, "The two countries will cooperate on strategic material supply chains such as energy and bio in response to international economic uncertainties."
President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee are seen boarding Air Force One at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on June 10th, as they depart for visits to three Central Asian countries: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Additionally, on the morning of the 10th, President Yoon will travel to Laos to attend the Korea-ASEAN Summit. On the same afternoon, after attending the ASEAN and Korea-China-Japan trilateral summit, he will hold bilateral meetings with Vietnam, Thailand, and others.
He will hold a summit with Laos' President Thongloun Sisoulith and attend the ASEAN Gala Dinner hosted by the Laos Prime Minister and spouse. Afterwards, on the 11th, President Yoon will attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) before returning home.
Through this trip, President Yoon aims to establish a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" between South Korea and ASEAN.
In particular, the Presidential Office is also negotiating the first summit meeting between President Yoon and Japan's new Prime Minister Ishiba. According to Japanese media, since Prime Minister Ishiba is also expected to attend the ASEAN meeting, the summit meeting is highly likely to take place.
A senior official from the Presidential Office explained, "The most significant aspect is that the two leaders will meet face-to-face for the first time and continue shuttle diplomacy," adding, "We expect serious discussions on how to further develop Korea-Japan relations going forward."
However, regarding whether Korea-China-Japan or Korea-China summit meetings will be held on the occasion of ASEAN, the official said, "It seems that it is not necessary to pursue them during this ASEAN event."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
