한-말 경제협력 강화 약속,... FTA 연내 타결 추진<br /><br />President Moon Jae-in says Seoul will push to clinch a bilateral free trade deal with Malaysia this year.<br />During a summit with the country's PM,... the visiting South Korean leader promised many more business opportunities with the ASEAN partner. <br />Shin Se-min files this report from Kuala Lumpur. <br />The leaders of Korea and Malaysia are taking things to the next level by upgrading their cooperation and exchanges.<br />President Moon Jae-in and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad decided to push for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with a deadline to sign the deal set before the end of this year... when the leaders gather again for the special South Korea-ASEAN Summit in Seoul.<br />"We have decided to pursue practical and detailed projects so that the people of both countries enjoy the benefits. We have also promised to push for a Korea-Malaysia FTA to create an institutional framework that will help further expand the countries' trade and investment."<br />"Next year marks the 60th year of diplomatic relations between our two countries. And I believe we have a vast amount of potential cooperation."<br />The upgrade in Korea-Malaysia ties translates into MOUs covering four areas.<br />As a response to the fast-approaching Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4-point-0,… the two sides said yes to doing joint research on IT and to holding regular minister-level business forums. <br />On transportation, the two allies will promote so-called Intelligent Transport systems on top of the other transit media.<br />Both Seoul and Kuala Lumpur will also proceed with the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, a collaborative platform for cities in member states to pursue smart and sustainable urban development.<br />Last year, Korea chose the city of Kota Kinabalu to build its smart city infrastructure,… making Malaysia the first partner country for the network project.<br />The leaders also called for efforts to develop new joint business opportunities such as combining the growing popularity of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, with Malaysia's halal industry.<br />"Another topic of mutual interest -- peace on the Korean Peninsula. President Moon and the Malaysian PM -- who last year had urged the sanctions on the regime to be loosened -- agreed to closely coordinate to help North Korea become part of the international community as well as a partner of the ASEAN states.<br />Shin Se-min, Arirang News, Kuala Lumpur."
