By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter
The Korea Times
President Roh Moo-hyun is scheduled to attend an annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Nov. 18-19 and visit Cambodia Nov. 19-22, Chong Wa Dae announced yesterday.
Roh is expected to hold bilateral and trilateral summits with his counterparts from other countries, including U.S. President George W. Bush, on the sidelines of the APEC forum to discuss the North Korean nuclear standoff, according to officials.
``Roh will make efforts to heighten the nation’s prestige in the multilateral diplomatic arena and seek international cooperation for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue,’’ Chong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tai-young said in a press briefing.
Roh will discuss ways of strengthening economic relations with other countries, Yoon said.
Consultations for bilateral and trilateral summits are underway between countries involved in the six-party nuclear talks, including the United States, Japan and China, as North Korea has expressed willingness to return to the negotiation table.
``Various forms of talks are considered including a trilateral summit among South Korea, Japan and the United States,’’ an official said asking not to be named. ``Officials from the countries are consulting with each other, though nothing has been fixed yet.’’
Roh is also expected to discuss various issues facing the Asia-Pacific Rim countries, including free trade agreements (FTA), security threats and energy concerns among others, in the multilateral APEC forum. South Korea hosted last year’s APEC summit in Pusan.
After the two-day APEC forum, Roh will fly to Phnom Penh for a four-day state visit. He will hold a summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday to discuss ways to enhance relations between the two countries.
The spokesman said 2006 would be a significant year for the Seoul-Phnom Penh ties following Hun’s visit to South Korea in March. The upcoming visit marks the first by a South Korean president since 1997 when the two nations restored ties severed during the Cold War era.
Roh is expected to hold bilateral and trilateral summits with his counterparts from other countries, including U.S. President George W. Bush, on the sidelines of the APEC forum to discuss the North Korean nuclear standoff, according to officials.
``Roh will make efforts to heighten the nation’s prestige in the multilateral diplomatic arena and seek international cooperation for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue,’’ Chong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tai-young said in a press briefing.
Roh will discuss ways of strengthening economic relations with other countries, Yoon said.
Consultations for bilateral and trilateral summits are underway between countries involved in the six-party nuclear talks, including the United States, Japan and China, as North Korea has expressed willingness to return to the negotiation table.
``Various forms of talks are considered including a trilateral summit among South Korea, Japan and the United States,’’ an official said asking not to be named. ``Officials from the countries are consulting with each other, though nothing has been fixed yet.’’
Roh is also expected to discuss various issues facing the Asia-Pacific Rim countries, including free trade agreements (FTA), security threats and energy concerns among others, in the multilateral APEC forum. South Korea hosted last year’s APEC summit in Pusan.
After the two-day APEC forum, Roh will fly to Phnom Penh for a four-day state visit. He will hold a summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday to discuss ways to enhance relations between the two countries.
The spokesman said 2006 would be a significant year for the Seoul-Phnom Penh ties following Hun’s visit to South Korea in March. The upcoming visit marks the first by a South Korean president since 1997 when the two nations restored ties severed during the Cold War era.
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