par Jarrett Renshaw et David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in will be the second world leader to be welcomed by US President Joe Biden to the White House on Friday, and the second Asian, a sign of the importance Washington places on the region in its willingness to counter the influence of China.
In addition to the perennial issue of North Korea’s nuclear program, allies will discuss regional security more broadly, cooperation in high-tech industries such as microprocessors, efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and means to strengthen action against climate change.
Moon Jae-in is hoping to secure a deal with Washington for the provisional supply of COVID-19 vaccines, while the Biden administration expects stronger climate commitments from Seoul.
Washington would also like to see a frank statement by Moon Jae-in on China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the region. Last month, during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Joe Biden sought to present a united front against Beijing.
Seoul was cautious for fear of angering China, its main trading partner, and Moon Jae-in stressed the importance of a stable relationship between Washington and Beijing and noted the importance of China in China’s affairs. the Korean Peninsula.
The two leaders will meet and then hold a joint press conference at 5 p.m. local time (9 p.m. GMT).
(David Brunnstrom, Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland; French version Camille Raynaud)
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