Korea-China-Japan Summit Talk

President Kim Dae-Jung and First Lady Lee Hee-Ho left Seoul Airport, yesterday, to attend the fifth `Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus Korea, China, and Japan Summit` and arrived in the capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan.

President Kim is scheduled to stay in Brunei until Tuesday. He will hold a tripartite summit talks with Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Kim is also scheduled to hold separate summit talks with the leaders of China, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos to discuss the issues of building closer partnership among Ease Asian countries, anti-terrorist coalition, and activation of trading investment, etc.

President Kim will propose the adoption of the East Asia Vision Group (EAVG)`s report, which suggests ▲changing the `ASEAN plus Korea, China, and Japan Summit` to `East Asia Summit` ▲ establishment of an `East Asia Forum` a civilian-government joint meeting ▲ establishment of an `East Asia Free Trade Area` during the main summit conference for the establishment of closer partnerships among East Asian countries.

In his departure speech, President Kim said, ``I will widely discuss with the leaders of other countries about the plans for strengthening partnership between Korea and ASEAN, which will be established through the concrete cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment, personnel interchange, etc.``

ysmo@donga.com