YONHAP NEWS

S. Korean president to head to Thailand for ASEAN summit

By Byun Duk-kun
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was to head to Thailand's royal beach resort Hua Hin Friday for a regional forum hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that will focus on regional cooperation on the global financial crisis and building an East Asian community.

   The South Korean president was scheduled to depart from Cambodia after a short excursion with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to the country's ancient Hindu temple complex, Angkor Wat.

   Lee is on a three-nation tour that earlier took him to Vietnam as his administration seeks stronger ties with Asian nations under a new diplomatic initiative.
"The president's trip will help strengthen our active cooperation with ASEAN countries in dealing with international issues such as the economic crisis and climate change," Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for Seoul's presidential office, told reporters.

   "President Lee will also seek to contribute to the substantial development of the country's ties with ASEAN nations based on his friendship and trust with the leaders of the member nations," she added.

   The ASEAN summit, also involving the leaders of Japan and China, will be held Saturday. The forum will be followed Sunday by a larger regional conference, the East Asia Summit, which will be attended by the leaders of India, Australia and New Zealand.

   bdk@yna.co.kr
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