청와대 "G11 가입 성사되면 세계 질서 이끄는 정식 멤버"
President Moon Jae-in says he will go to the G7 summit his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump having invited him to join other world leaders there this fall.
If South Korea is one of the eleven or more countries potentially attending, the Blue House says that'll raise the country's global standing.
Kim Min-ji reports.
South Korea would become one of the countries that leads the world order... should it become part of the so-called Group of 11.
Seoul's top office said Tuesday that President Trump's offer to join the G7 meeting in September is not a one-time offer but rather an invitation to join a new global system that would elevate the country's national status.
"If a trip to the U.S. happens this year, South Korea will not be going to the G7 as an observer but as an official member of a new international system. South Korea would become one of the leading countries that determine the global order. This will raise South Korea's national status and benefit the country's interests."
Trump officially invited President Moon in a phone call on Monday,... reiterating that the G7 is outdated and doesn't represent the current international situation.
The U.S. leader had earlier said that he was postponing the G7 summit until the fall and that he wanted to invite the leaders of South Korea, Australia, Russia and India expanding the G7 to a G11 or G12.
Moon accepted the offer, saying that Seoul will fulfill its role in the areas of COVID-19 quarantine and economy.
He agreed that the G7 has limitations in dealing with global issues and finding solutions.
Moon added that if the expanded summit is held face-to-face, it would be a milestone in the COVID-19 crisis, signaling that the world is returning to normal in terms of life and the economy.
The top office, meanwhile, brushed off concerns about hurting relations with China,... especially at a time when ties between Washington and Beijing have soured over COVID-19 and Hong Kong.
A senior Blue House official told reporters that there was no mention of China during the talks,... and instead highlighted Moon's remarks that the expanded summit would be a milestone for the post-virus era.
Seoul's top office said that President Moon was the first leader from the four invited countries that Trump called. It added that Moon said there was no reason to avoid the invite and that it was welcome news. Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.
