Lee, Kan discuss ties, N. Korea in Brussels -The Korea herald-

Lee, Kan discuss ties, N. Korea in Brussels

2010-10-05 08:44

South Korean president seeks support for Seoul G20 summit from ASEM leaders 

BRUSSELS ― President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan discussed bilateral relations and North Korea in their summit talks on Monday ahead of the ASEM summit in the Belgian capital.

Kan expressed Tokyo’s intention to bolster efforts for future ties with Seoul including its plan to return Korea’s royal documents, to which Lee responded by saying the two countries should seek a bright relationship in the coming 100 years. This year marks the centennial of Japan’s annexation of Korea.

Lee appreciated Kan’s Aug. 10 statement, in which he apologized for Japan’s colonization of Korea, and said it was time to put Tokyo’s pledges into action, said Hong Sang-pyo, Lee’s top aide for public relations. 

Kan also brought up the latest territorial dispute between Japan and China, but Lee simply said he wished the two could come to a peaceful resolution as their relations have a great impact on regional and global peace, according to Hong.

Lee proposed holding a trilateral summit of Korea, Japan and China on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three summit in Vietnam late this month and Kan responded positively.

In their first summit since the unveiling of Kan’s second Cabinet last month, the two leaders exchanged views on recent developments in Northeast Asia and agreed to continue close cooperation to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, Lee’s office said.　

President Lee Myung-bak (right) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan before their talks in Brussels on Monday. (Yonhap News)

The two leaders also pledged to continue efforts to resume negotiations for a Korea-Japan free trade pact and to successfully host the G20 Summit in Seoul and the APEC summit in Yokohama next month, Cheong Wa Dae said.

At the ASEM summit, which kicked off Monday, Lee called for international efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula and support to successfully host the Seoul G20 Summit.

Lee assessed the status of the global economy, explained the Seoul G20 summit and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between ASEM and the G20 during the first plenary session after holding bilateral talks with prime ministers Kan of Japan, and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg of Britain.

 

President Lee meets Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. (Yonhap)

Forty-six leaders or representatives of the ASEM member countries, presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, and the ASEAN secretary general attended the two-day summit here.

In an opening speech as the leader of the ASEM coordinator of the Northeast and South Asia group, Lee highlighted the importance of stronger governance in Asia and Europe to enhance quality of life and requested ASEM members’ support for a successful G20 Summit.


“Asia and Europe will be able to achieve a win-win situation by working closely within the framework of ASEM,” Lee said.

“The two continents should try to consummate good governance by harmonisouly dealing with common tasks as well as whatever differences they may have.”

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also gave speeches at the opening ceremony.

The first plenary session on Monday, themed “world economy governance,” was followed by a working dinner where leaders discussed how to overcome the global economic crisis, policies to stimulate the economy, the issue of fiscal soundness and the financial safety net. They also exchanged views on reforming the financial regulatory system, and international financial institutions as well as collaboration with the G20.

At this year’s summit, ASEM admitted Russia, Australia and New Zealand as new members.

During his summit talks with Australia’s prime minister, Lee congratulated the country for its membership of ASEM and expressed gratitude for Canberra’s collaboration in investigating the South Korean naval ship sinking in March.

Lee and Gillard shared the view that resolve in the face of the North Korean nuclear standoff would be important for peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region and that the development of the G20 system has contributed in bringing order to the international economy. 

The two leaders vowed stronger cooperation to reach a bilateral free trade agreement and for the G20 summit in Seoul.

Lee spoke mostly about the same topics during his talks with British Deputy Prime Minister Clegg.

Lee and Clegg exchanged views on ways to strengthen economic and trade ties, the world economy, antiproliferation efforts and recent developments around the Korean Peninsula, according to Lee’s office.

They shared the view that the Korea-EU FTA, to be signed Wednesday, will do much good for promoting trade and investment between Korea and Britain.

Upon his arrival in Brussels on Sunday, Lee visited the Belgian Army Museum where a Korean War exhibition was being held.

Lee thanked Belgium for its contribution to the fight for free democracy during the 1950-53 Korean War. 

“I once again thank the veterans who took part in the Korean War 60 years ago,” Lee said Sunday.

“Your sacrifice became the cornerstone of the relationship between the Republic of Korea and Belgium today and Korea’s development.”

Belgium and Luxemburg sent 3,500 troops to protect Korea from communism and many gave their lives to defending free democracy, Lee said.

Lee saw the exhibition with the Korean War veterans from both Belgium and Korea.

On Tuesday, Lee is scheduled to hold summit talks with Chinese Prime Minister Wen, take part in three more plenary sessions of the ASEM summit, a reception by King Albert II of Belgium, a working lunch and summit talks with Leterme.

After Korea-EU summit talks on Wednesday, during which the two sides are set to sign an FTA, Lee is slated to return home Thursday.

Established in 1996 at the first summit in Bangkok, ASEM is an interregional forum which consists of the 27 members of the EU, the 13 members of the ASEAN Plus Three and, as of 2008, India, Mongolia and Pakistan.

Korea hosted the third ASEM summit in 2000 and has led preparations for the upcoming eighth ASEM summit as the coordinator of the Northeast and South Asia group for the past year.

A general view of the table is seen during the opening ceremony of an ASEM 8 summit in Brussels on Monday, Oct. 4, 2010. European and Asian leaders will seek common ground on ways to fix and regulate the global financial market but will likely be bogged down by such issues as market restrictions and trade surpluses during three days of summits. (AP-Yonhap)

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldm.com)
Korea Herald correspondent