South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next week. He will travel first to Manila on Monday, where he will take part in the ASEAN summit until Tuesday, and from Wednesday to the Chinese city of Shenzhen for two days for the APEC summit.

In Manila, Lee intends to discuss closer cooperation with the ASEAN states. At the meeting with the Mekong countries, he wants to reaffirm the strategic partnership and discuss cooperation on critical minerals and in the fight against transnational crime. He will also attend the ASEAN Plus Three summit with South Korea, Japan and China, as well as the East Asia Summit.

In Shenzhen, Lee will attend the APEC CEO Summit and a welcome dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. He intends to stress South Korea's constructive role in APEC, highlight contributions to energy supply chains, crime prevention and food security, and seek support for Seoul's policy of peaceful coexistence with North Korea. North Korea is not expected to attend the APEC summit, in order to hold talks with the United States.

Key points:

• South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend the summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next week.
• The South Korean president will travel first to Manila on Monday for the ASEAN summit, which he will attend until Tuesday, and then from Wednesday to the Chinese city of Shenzhen for two days for the APEC summit.
• At a summit between South Korea and ASEAN, Lee intends to discuss ways of closer cooperation with the ASEAN states.

Source: Yonhap (English)