Pres. Park to visit Russia for summit talks with Putin in Sept.

Pres. Park to visit Russia for summit talks with Putin in Sept.. August. 04, 2016 07:00. by 장택동 기자will71@donga.com.

President Park Geun-hye will visit Vladivostok, Russia on September 2 -3 to hold summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and to attend the Oriental Economic Forum, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said on Wednesday. With Russia strongly opposed to South Korea’s THAAD deployment, attention is focusing on whether President Park’s visit will provide a watershed in improving Seoul-Moscow ties.

“In the South Korea-Russia summit, the two leaders will discuss ways to advance practical cooperation in bilateral relations, and issues on the Korean Peninsula and international affairs including North Korea’s nuclear development,” the presidential office said. “President Park will attend the Oriental Economic Forum as a main guest, and will deliver a keynote speech at the plenary session.”

It is the first time that President Park is visiting Russia as part of bilateral diplomacy since her inauguration. The visit is a return visit for President Putin’s visit to Seoul in November 2013. Russia held the first Oriental Economic Forum last year with the aim of attracting investment in its Far East region and galvanizing development in the region. This year’s forum will bring together 32 countries including South Korea, Japan, and China.