S Korean President to attend ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, seeks stronger ties

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will depart Sunday for Malaysia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, aiming to strengthen ties with the regional bloc and enhance cooperation against online scams and other transnational crimes.

AI Brief

President Lee to attend the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, marking his first Southeast Asia visit since taking office in June.
He aims to boost AI cooperation, seek support for Korean Peninsula peace, and tackle online scams affecting South Koreans.
Lee will meet regional leaders including Japan's and China's premiers, ahead of hosting the APEC Summit in South Korea.

Lee's two-day visit to Kuala Lumpur marks his first trip to Southeast Asia since taking office in June, Yonhap news agency reported.

On Monday, he will attend the ASEAN Summit, where he plans to discuss ways to advance South Korea's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the 10-member bloc.

According to National Security Adviser Wi Sung Iac, Lee will outline his vision for greater cooperation in artificial intelligence, seek ASEAN's support for his peace initiative on the Korean Peninsula, and discuss joint efforts to combat online scams.

Lee will also participate in the ASEAN Plus Three Summit involving South Korea, Japan and China, where he is expected to hold his first in-person meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

On the sidelines, he will meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to discuss bilateral cooperation and ongoing efforts to tackle online scams targeting South Koreans, following the recent death of a student in Cambodia linked to such crimes.

Lee is also scheduled to hold talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to explore ways to deepen economic collaboration before returning home late Monday.

His trip comes ahead of a busy diplomatic week for South Korea, which will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and related economic events in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

This year's ASEAN and APEC gatherings are drawing major attention as United States (US) President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold a high-stakes meeting amid escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

On the sidelines of the APEC Summit, Lee is scheduled to meet Trump for a second bilateral meeting on Wednesday and hold his first summit with Xi on Saturday, both leaders making state visits to South Korea, the presidential office said.

-- BERNAMA