President Lee Jae Myung from Nov. 16-19 will attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in China. He is shown (left) on March 3 shaking hands with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the presidential office of Malacanang Palace in Manila, the Philippines. (Yonhap News)
By Yoon Sojung
President Lee Jae Myung from Nov. 16-19 will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in China.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac announced this on Nov. 12 at a news briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.
President Lee on Nov. 16 will first attend a bilateral summit with ASEAN in Manila to share key results in implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership vision between both sides, an initiative he proposed last year, and hold broad discussions on strengthening cooperation with the region, a key economic and diplomatic partner for Korea.
Next at the ASEAN-Mekong Summit, he will pledge his commitment to advancing the strategic partnership between Korea and the Mekong River region, while exploring ways to reinforce cooperation in areas such as critical minerals and crackdowns on transnational crime.
The next morning, President Lee at the ASEAN Plus Three Summit will present his plans for future cooperation within the ASEAN Plus Three framework ahead of its 30th anniversary next year. In the afternoon, he will attend the East Asia Summit to explain his administration's stances on major regional issues including online scams, as well as share his vision for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
On Nov. 18, he will fly to Shenzhen, China, for the APEC forum, starting with his attendance at the CEO Summit. He will also attend a welcome banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife.
APEC's plenary session starting on Nov. 19 will focus on the forum's theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together: Openness, Innovation and Cooperation" as its core agenda.
On the expected outcomes of the summits, Director Wi said, "Through his comments at the summit, President Lee will share Korea's policies and experiences with participating leaders, as well as convey Korea's commitment as last year's APEC chair country to making constructive contributions to APEC's development and the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region."
"By participating in the ASEAN Summit and the APEC forum, we will keep advancing Korea's vision within the region's multilateral diplomatic arena," he added. "We will also continue to implement a diplomacy delivering tangible benefits to our people and industry by strengthening substantive cooperation with key states in the region."
"We intend to lead discussions on solutions to shared regional challenges like energy supply chains, transnational crime and food security, as well as highlight our contributions," he said. "We will also reaffirm the steadfast support of ASEAN and APEC member states for our policies on peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula, while sending a positive message for peace and stability in the region."
President Lee Jae Myung from Nov. 16-19 will visit Manila, the Philippines, for the ASEAN Summit and Shenzhen, China, for the APEC forum. He is shown (right) on Nov. 1, 2025, shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a state guest, at their summit venue of the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. (Cheong Wa Dae)
arete@korea.kr
