문 대통령 힌두교 사원서 세계 평화 기원... 경제 일정 돌입 오늘 삼성전자 방문
President Moon Jae-in has kicked off his four-day trip to India with a visit to the world's largest Hindu temple as a show of respect for the culture and people of India.
But, dominating his agenda for the rest of his state visit will be the economy.
Our chief Blue House correspondent Moon Connyoung is traveling with the president and she files this report from New Delhi.
"With a population of 1-point-3 billion and growing and an economy expanding at the fastest pace in the world, India has been identified as the "new frontier" by South Korea for strategic and business interests. With this in mind, South Korean President Moon Jae-in kicked off his four-day maiden trip to the South Asian country with a visit to the largest Hindu temple in the world."
Welcomed with garlands, a 'tika' and 'kalwa' or holy thread on the wrist, President Moon and First Lady Kim Jung-sook admire the architecture and appreciate the culture and religion of the Indian people.
Then, South Korea's first couple perform the 'abishek' by offering holy water.
Deeper understanding of each other's culture and strengthening people-to-people exchange.
It's the first P of what South Korea has identified as the main bilateral agenda with India... the 3-P-plus. People, prosperity, peace and more.
On the way out, the President leaves written in the visitor's book: "I pray for peace for Korea, India, and the world here at the Akshardham temple where deities reside."
But, it's the second P - prosperity or economic ties that's the primary focus of Mr. Moon's first visit to India as president.
The South Korean president is traveling with a huge delegation of business leaders and dominating his agenda on day two will be a South Korea, India business forum which will likely open new avenues for bilateral partnerships and a visit to Samsung's new smartphone factory, set to be the world's largest, for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Samsung has invested over 7-hundred-10 million U.S. dollars in the project, which adds capacity to the company's Noida plant, which makes smartphones, refrigerators and flat-panel televisions.
Guiding the president around the new plant and briefing the president will be Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong - the first encounter between President Moon and the leader of the nation's biggest conglomerate.
"The first full day for President Moon in India is dedicated to expanding economic ties with the world's second most populous nation that's fast becoming one of the most dynamic consumer markets. The president's aides say it reflects the importance of India, the last great untapped opportunity for export-driven South Korea... as it seeks to cut reliance on its two biggest trade partners.
Traveling with the president, Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, New Delhi."
