문대통령, 금주 아세안 정상외교…나흘간 화상으로 진행<br /><br />The countries of ASEAN and their partners including South Korea have a series of meetings lined up for later this week.<br />President Moon Jae-in will be taking part in them, seeking to boost regional cooperation... and highlighting efforts for building peace on the Korean Peninsula.<br />The highlight on Sunday, will be the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.<br />Kim Min-ji reports.<br />President Moon Jae-in will take part in a string of virtual meetings with ASEAN members later this week to discuss ways to step up regional cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />"During the ASEAN-related meetings, President Moon is expected to express his commitment to join the global efforts for economic recovery and cooperation in healthcare and measures to overcome COVID-19."<br />At the South Korea-ASEAN summit on Thursday,... Moon is expected to discuss his government's New Southern Policy Plus Strategy which seeks to bolster ties with ASEAN members in various areas, including healthcare.<br />On Friday Moon will sit down the leaders of countries along the Mekong River Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand to discuss ways to deepen their ties.<br />The meeting is the second of its kind,... after the inaugural session in Busan last year.<br />On Saturday, South Korea will be joined by Japan and China for the ASEAN+3 summit.<br />It will be the first time that President Moon will officially meet, albeit virtually, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga since he took office.<br />That'll be followed by the East Asian Summit that brings together 18 countries, including the U.S., Russia, Australia, India and New Zealand.<br />There, Moon is expected to highlight efforts to achieve denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.<br />On Sunday, Moon will take part in the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP.<br />It's a free trade deal involving 15 countries the 10 ASEAN members, South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand which combined make up about a third of the world's population.<br />The deal is expected to revitalize South Korea's trade and investment,... as well as diversify its export partners.<br />South Korea's top office says Moon will likely stress the importance of free trade and economic cooperation during the RCEP talks.<br />Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.<br />
