Lee to press regional cooperation at ASEAN and APEC summits

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend ASEAN meetings in Manila and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen next week, with Seoul planning to press for regional cooperation on energy supply risks and other shared challenges. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is also scheduled to visit China ahead of the APEC gathering to meet his counterpart, Wang Yi, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said.

National Security Adviser Wi Sunglac said Lee would leave Monday for a four-day diplomatic trip, beginning with meetings in the Philippines before traveling to Shenzhen. The APEC leaders’ summit is scheduled for Nov. 18-19. Lee is expected to arrive in Shenzhen on Nov. 18.

At the regional meetings, Seoul intends to raise energy supply chains, food security and transnational crime. Wi said South Korea would call for cooperation at APEC on responses to energy supply chain shocks originating in the Middle East and on restoring the multilateral trading order. Lee is also expected to discuss critical-mineral supply chains and cross-border crime at the South Korea-Mekong summit, and food and energy challenges at the ASEAN Plus Three meeting.

Lee will attend the South Korea-ASEAN...