South Korean President Moon Arrives in Jakarta for State Visit

Jakarta, MINA – South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived here Wednesday on a three-day visit that will include a bilateral summit with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo and talks with other top government and business leaders.

His state visit to Jakarta is part of a three-nation Southeast Asia tour that will later take him to Vietnam and the Philippines where he is set to attend a series of regional forums including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Moon was set to begin his state visit with a group of South Korean expatriates here later in the day.

He will visit the country’s national cemetery early Wednesday before attending a business forum that will involve some 130 business leaders from both countries, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

Moon and Widodo will hold their first bilateral summit later Wednesday, followed by an expanded summit that will involve top government officials.

During his trip, the South Korean president is expected to introduce what he calls his “New South Policy” aiming to upgrade Seoul’s ties with the fast-rising Southeast Asian economies. Since taking office in May, Moon has stressed the importance of cooperation with the region.

The South Korean leader will head to Da Nang, Vietnam on Friday for the annual APEC summit that will be attended by the leaders of 20 other major economies, including the United States and China.

His eight-day tour will end in Manila where he is set to attend the East Asia Summit and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forums. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)