ASEAN+3 Summit Held... President Moon: "Prime Minister Suga, Especially Glad to See You"

Unusual Separate Greetings at Multilateral Summit... Steps Toward Improving Korea-Japan Relations

President Moon Jae-in is speaking at the 'ASEAN+3' virtual summit held at the Blue House on the afternoon of the 14th. 2020.11.14 [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] On the 14th, President Moon Jae-in welcomed the participating country leaders at the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)+3 Summit held via video conference, specifically mentioning Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and greeting him as "especially welcome."

President Moon said this at the opening remarks of the 23rd ASEAN+3 Summit held at 3:30 p.m. that day. Although the summit was held virtually, it was the first time President Moon and Prime Minister Suga faced each other since Suga took office last September. It is unusual for a leader to give a separate greeting to a leader of a specific country at a multilateral summit.

President Moon said, "Based on 23 years of accumulated cooperation experience, we have become a model of international solidarity and cooperation in combating the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)," adding, "I hope that the movement of businesspeople will further expand within the scope that does not hinder quarantine measures."

He emphasized, "As the COVID-19 situation prolongs, the problems we need to solve together are increasing," and said, "We must advance health cooperation to the next level by working together for the development and equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments, and establish a rapid and transparent cooperation system to prepare for new infectious diseases that may occur at any time."

He continued, "In the economic sector as well, we must proactively prepare for the post-COVID era," noting, "The winds of protectionism and uncertainties in financial markets remain, and there are concerns that inequality will expand as the digital economy transition accelerates." He added, "These are problems that are difficult to solve by the power of one country alone," urging, "We must pool wisdom and cooperate to strengthen economic resilience and find inclusive and sustainable growth measures." Furthermore, he added, "I hope ASEAN+3 will become a beacon of hope for the global economy in the post-COVID era."

President Moon Jae-in (top right on screen) is speaking at the 'ASEAN+3' video summit held at the Blue House on the afternoon of the 14th. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (top left on screen) is listening to President Moon's remarks. 2020.11.14 [Photo by Yonhap News]

President Moon announced that South Korea, as the coordinator of trilateral cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan this year, will promote an increased contribution to the 'COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund' and participate in efforts to expand the ASEAN-level 'medical supplies stockpiling system' to the ASEAN+3 level.

In particular, he proposed jointly exploring ways to expand the scope and targets of the 'fast track' system operated by South Korea to guarantee the movement of essential personnel such as businesspeople. Currently, among East Asian countries, agreements to establish businessperson fast tracks have been reached with China, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan.

At the meeting, ASEAN+3 leaders adopted the 'ASEAN+3 Leaders’ Statement on Economic and Financial Resilience' to strengthen economic and financial cooperation based on free trade and multilateralism. The statement includes ▲promotion of cooperation among ASEAN+3 economic ministers, finance ministers, and central bank governors ▲strengthening supply chain connectivity and resilience through market openness ▲support for an open, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system ▲encouragement of cooperation to enhance connectivity ▲strengthening cooperation to support the digitalization of COVID-19 vulnerable entities such as small and medium-sized enterprises.

Additionally, President Moon explained efforts for the substantial progress toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace, and requested the continued support of the participating country leaders.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.