REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, stated that he wanted to improve economic relations with Indonesia during his first country visit to Southeast Asia region.

During the Indonesia-Korea Business Roundtable in Jakarta on Thursday, he stated that Indonesia was the first member country of the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) that he visited after his inauguration as the South Korean president.

"The diplomacy between Korea and Indonesia has been going well so far. Asian diplomacy has been more inclined to Japan, China, and Russia. Therefore, Korean diplomacy must also move to a new horizon, and Indonesia has good prospects for that," he noted.

Moon Jae-in had sent a special envoy to Indonesia after his inauguration as president as he realized the importance of Indonesia's role for South Korea.

"I hope this (meeting) can improve cooperation between Indonesia and Korea," he remarked.

Moon Jae-in revealed that there were many reasons for South Korea to pay attention to ASEAN, especially Indonesia.

According to him, ASEAN has become the second most important area for South Korea after China. ASEAN was also able to survive in the midst of global crisis.

"I find that Indonesia's economic development still achieves 5 percent despite the global crisis. Indonesia also has the biggest role in ASEAN. Therefore, we want to be faster than other countries to attract the attention of Indonesia," he pointed out.

At the business forum, Moon Jae-in, along with 16 leaders of Korean companies, held a business discussion, which was coordinated by the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

The business forum was also attended by Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Public Works and People's Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Chairman of Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong, and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

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