Will South Korea Strengthen Ties with Indonesia This Week?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- South Korea is sending special envoys to Indonesia this week.
- The visit reflects the new Lee Jae Myung government's commitment to enhancing bilateral ties.
- The delegation will engage with key Indonesian officials and discuss cooperation in several sectors.
- Indonesia is a member of the ASEAN community.
- Previous envoy visits have included discussions with the EU and France.
Seoul, August 10 (NationPress) South Korea is poised to dispatch a team of special envoys to Indonesia this week, marking a significant step in reaffirming the new Lee Jae Myung administration's dedication to enhancing relationships with the Southeast Asian country, as stated by the presidential office on Sunday.
The delegation, spearheaded by Rep. Cho Jeong-sik from the ruling Democratic Party, will embark on a three-day visit to Jakarta starting Monday, as noted by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung in a communication with reporters.
The envoys are scheduled to engage with key officials from the Indonesian government and present a letter from Lee to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto that outlines initiatives aimed at bolstering bilateral relations, according to Kang.
Moreover, they intend to engage in extensive discussions regarding practical cooperation in sectors such as trade, investment, defense, energy, and digital transformation, along with strategies to enhance connections at the regional level involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as reported by Yonhap.
Indonesia is among the ten ASEAN member nations, which include neighboring countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Since assuming office on June 4, Lee has dispatched special envoys to several countries, including the European Union, France, Britain, India, and Poland.
On July 14, Envoy Yoon traveled to Belgium, the EU's headquarters, to discuss enhancing the bilateral strategic partnership and conveyed Korea's aspirations to expand practical cooperation with the EU in advanced science and technology.
Envoy Kang departed for France on July 15. The presidential office previously stated, "By fortifying our 21st-century comprehensive partnership, we will augment cooperation with France in strategic sectors such as trade, investment, artificial intelligence, space, and defense, alongside cultural and interpersonal exchanges."