Moon embarks on diplomatic trip to 3 Asean countries

Mar 11, 2019, 09:19 am

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President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook arrived in Brunei on Sunday as part of his three-nation tour. / Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporters Lee Seok-jong & Hong Sun-mi

President Moon Jae-in has embarked on his week-long visits to three Asean countries, including Brunei, Malaysia and Cambodia, in order to discuss ways to further enhance cooperation for his New Southern Policy.

The president is also expected to seek cooperation and gather support of the ASEAN region to continue his drive for peace on the Korean Peninsula and promoting North Korea-U.S. denuclearization dialogue following the second Trump-Kim summit.

Moon on Sunday departed from Seoul airport in Seongnam and arrived in the Bruneian capital of Bandar Seri Begawan, the first stop on his three-nation tour.

Moon’s strategy is to enhance bilateral relations through cooperation projects that fit to different characteristics of the three Southeast Asian countries. For instance, he will seek cooperation projects in construction sector during his trip to Brunei while promoting Hallyu and halal cooperation projects in Malaysia. During his trip to Cambodia, he plans to seek cooperation projects involving the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

It reflects his willingness to make a ‘customized’ approach to each country to achieve substantial outcome with hopes of promoting friendly relations.

Moon’s official schedule will begin by attending a welcoming ceremony hosted by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Monday. He will then hold a summit meeting and signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Later on Monday, he will visit construction sites at the Royal Regalia Museum and Temburong Bridge before attending a state banquet hosted by Brunei Sultan.

On Tuesday, the president will visit Kuala Lumpur, where he will be attending a Hallyu and halal exhibition, and hold a meeting with Koreans living in Malaysia.

On Wednesday, Moon is scheduled to hold summit talks with Sultan Abdullah, attend a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding, and attend a state banquet. He will also attend a Korea-Malaysia business forum on Thursday before leaving for Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

During his stay there, Moon will meet with South Koreans living in Cambodia. On Friday, he is scheduled to attend a welcoming ceremony hosted by Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni. Moon will also hold a summit meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen and attend a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding.

His trip will end in Cambodia, where he will attend a business forum and also have a state dinner hosted by the King.

#ASEAN #Brunei #Malaysia #Cambodia #Moon Jae-in