S. Korean foreign minister due in India for talks on economic ties

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan left for
India on Monday for talks with India's newly-elected central government on ways
to boost bilateral ties with special focus on the trade sector, according to
officials here.

"Minister Yu will meet senior Indian officials in New Delhi, including Foreign
Minister S.M. Krishna and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, on Tuesday to discuss a
range of bilateral and global issues," a South Korean foreign ministry official
said. "In particular, the issue of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) between the two nations will be discussed."
South Korea and India are in the final stage of negotiations on the CEPA, a term
used to emphasize the agreement's purpose of covering goods and services trade,
investment, and economic cooperation in a comprehensive manner, not unlike a Free
Trade Agreement. South Korea is seeking to sign the CEPA as early as possible.
Yu also plans to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was
sworn in late last month for a second consecutive five-year term.
"The foreign minister's visit to India this time is expected to make big
contributions to the strengthening of South Korea-India ties and the government's
push for the 'New Asia Initiative,'" the ministry said in a press release.
Yu is scheduled to return home on Wednesday.
Under the leadership of President Lee Myung-bak, Seoul has stepped up efforts to
improve relations with other Asian nations, especially those in South Asia.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)