ASEAN+3 Summit Held on the 27th
Lee: "Facing a New Geopolitical Crisis"
On the Leaders' Statement on Strengthening Economic and Financial Cooperation
"Very Timely," Voices Support
President Lee Jae-myung and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are having a conversation at the Korea-ASEAN Summit held on the 27th at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 27th, President Lee Jae-myung voiced his support for the 'ASEAN Plus Three Leaders' Statement on Strengthening Regional Economic and Financial Cooperation.' President Lee stated, "We are facing new geopolitical crises," and added, "I believe the leaders' statement is very timely."
President Lee made these remarks while attending the 'ASEAN Plus Three Summit,' which includes South Korea, China, and Japan, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on this day. He said, "ASEAN Plus Three, which was launched in Malaysia on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of ASEAN's founding in 1997, made significant contributions to overcoming the Asian financial crisis. Now, 30 years later, we are once again facing new geopolitical crises, such as protectionism and the restructuring of global supply chains."
President Lee further analyzed, "The crises we currently face are highly complex and multi-layered," and added, "Various challenges-including an aging population and low birth rates, digital divides between countries, generations, and social classes, as well as food crises and energy crises caused by climate change and natural disasters, and transnational crimes-are having a major impact on all of our daily lives."
He continued, "This means that ASEAN Plus Three must accelerate its cooperation even further. I hope that by recalling the spirit of cooperation and solidarity that gave birth to ASEAN Plus Three, we can pool our wisdom and wisely overcome the crises we are facing together."
President Lee Meets Chinese Premier Li Qiang: "Let Us Work Closely Together"
President Lee Jae-myung and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are entering the Korea-ASEAN Summit held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News
On the occasion of this summit, President Lee met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang for the first time since taking office. President Lee remarked, "High-level exchanges between South Korea and China are continuing, and this week, I am scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as well." To Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who attended as Japan's representative, President Lee said, "I look forward to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit."
President Lee pledged to the leaders of member states, "I will work closely with China and Japan to ensure that exchanges among South Korea, China, and Japan lead to cooperation within ASEAN Plus Three, and that cooperation within ASEAN Plus Three, in turn, drives exchanges among the three countries, creating a virtuous cycle."
Meanwhile, at the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, President Lee also urged joint responses, stating, "Transnational crimes, especially those centered around organized crime complexes, are threatening the safety and daily lives of countless people."
He said, "South Korea plans to strengthen its response system by working closely with ASEANAPOL to prevent the spread of transnational crime and, furthermore, to eradicate crime complexes. I hope for the interest and cooperation of ASEAN Plus Three in efforts to create a free and safe ASEAN community, free from the threats of transnational crime."
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