Asia's presence ever growing in int'l diplomacy: foreign minister

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign minister on Wednesday highlighted
Asia's increasing significance in international diplomacy and said that Seoul
seeks to further strengthen ties with regional partners through means such as
free trade agreements.

"We must remember that Asia's significance and influence is ever growing within
the international community. Our diplomatic power in the international community
can be further bolstered by securing cooperation and support from Asian
countries," Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said at a lecture at Kangwon National
University in Chuncheon, east of Seoul.
The minister's comment comes as South Korea and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) prepare to mark their 20th anniversary of relations early
next month with a special summit meeting aimed at further strengthening their
ties and boosting cooperation.
"The government will seek all-out cooperation with Asian countries by means such
as free trade agreements, and increase our role and contributions in the region,"
said Yu.
The minister said he expects next month's summit to lay a substantive foundation
for South Korea's so-called "New Asia Initiative," under which Seoul aims to
promote Asia's interests in the global community.
Regarding Seoul's frozen ties with Pyongyang, Yu said the government plans to
make "patient" efforts and will try to hold "constructive talks" with North Korea
based on a long-term vision of inter-Korean cooperation.
"Finding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is our utmost diplomatic
task," the minister said.
Pyongyang suspended dialogue with Seoul after South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak took office in February last year, taking a tougher stance on North
Korea's nuclear program and ending the unconditional flow of economic aid to the
North.
Last week, the North annulled all its contracts regarding an inter-Korean
industrial complex, including those on wages and land fees, retaliating against
Lee's "confrontational" policy towards it.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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