President Moon Jae-in will hold a virtual summit with European Union leaders on Tuesday, as the two sides mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of their bilateral free trade agreement and establishment of their strategic partnership.
Moon is expected to focus discussions with EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on ways to cope with the COVID-19 crisis and strengthen cooperation on Korean Peninsula issues.
According to Cheong Wa Dae, other agenda items for the afternoon session include joint efforts on the development of a coronavirus vaccine and treatment, promoting bilateral trade and investment as well as closer cooperation on the digital economy and renewable energy.
It will be Moon's first summit talks of the year and first official dialogue with the new EU leadership that assumed office last December.
South Korea views the EU as a potential major partner in its Green New Deal project aimed at slashing the country's fossil fuel use and boosting low-carbon, environmentally friendly energy industries for job creation.
South Korea is one of the EU's 10 strategic partners, along with the United States, Japan, China, Brazil, Russia, India, Canada, Mexico and South Africa.
<Photo: Yonhap News>
