President Moon Jae-in will embark on a trip to Singapore and India next week that will largely be aimed at enhancing South Korea's relations with its Asian neighbors.
The president's first stop is India on Sunday for a four-day state visit that will include a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Our chief Cheongwadae correspondent Moon Connyoung has the details. Less than three weeks after championing his New Northern Policy in Russia late last month, South Korean President Moon Jae-in will be in southeast and southern Asia this weekend... first with with his eyes set on the world's fastest-growing major economy.
"President Moon Jae-in will make state visits to India and Singapore from July 8th through the 13th for six days and five nights."
At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the South Korean leader will be in India from the 8th through the 11th... during which he will meet with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and hold a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Modi to strengthen the two countries' special strategic partnership and discuss ways to expand their future-oriented relationship.
"South Korea and India mark 45 years of diplomatic relations this year. Our two countries have developed and continue to develop key partnership not only in economic relations but also in our pursuit for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and the international community."
The latter half of his six-day South Asia tour will take President Moon to South Korea's second biggest trading partner among the ASEAN: Singapore.
There, at the invitation of the President of Singapore Halimah Yacob, he will meet with both the
Singporean President and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Mr. Moon is also scheduled to deliver a speech to leaders from Singapore's politics, business, government, academia and media.
"Dubbed the Singapore Lecture, the President plans to detail his vision and policy direction for denuclearization and permanent peace establishment on the Korean Peninsula as well as the New Southern Policy which aims to elevate our government's cooperation with the ASEAN to a whole new level."
"South Korean President Moon Jae-in's state visits to the two nations are significant in that his trip to India will mark the first visit to the South Asian region as president and Singapore is the chair of the ASEAN this year.
Analysts believe the visits will not only provide an opportunity for South Korea to drive forward its New Southern Policy in full swing, but also seek consensus for President Moon's peace agenda on the Korean Peninsula and expand the nation's diplomatic horizon.
Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, the Blue House."
