President Moon Jae-in has kicked off his four-day
trip to India with a visit to the world's
largest Hindu temple as a show of respect
for the culture and people of India.
But, dominating his agenda for the rest of
his state visit will be the economy.
Our chief Blue House correspondent Moon Connyoung
is traveling with the president and she files
this report from New Delhi.
"With a population of 1-point-3 billion and
growing and an economy expanding at the fastest
pace in the world, India has been identified
as the "new frontier" by South Korea for strategic
and business interests.
With this in mind, South Korean President
Moon Jae-in kicked off his four-day maiden
trip to the South Asian country with a visit
to the largest Hindu temple in the world."
CG
Akshardham Temple
East Delhi
Welcomed with garlands, a 'tika' and 'kalwa'
or holy thread on the wrist, President Moon
and First Lady Kim Jung-sook admire the architecture
and appreciate the culture and religion of
the Indian people.
Then, South Korea's first couple perform the
'abishek' by offering holy water.
Deeper understanding of each other's culture
and strengthening people-to-people exchange.
It's the first P of what South Korea has identified
as the main bilateral agenda with India...
the 3-P-plus.
People, prosperity, peace and more.
On the way out, the President leaves written
in the visitor's book: "I pray for peace for
Korea, India, and the world here at the Akshardham
temple where deities reside."
But, it's the second P - prosperity or economic
ties that's the primary focus of Mr. Moon's
first visit to India as president.
The South Korean president is traveling with
a huge delegation of business leaders and
dominating his agenda on day two will be a
South Korea, India business forum which will
likely open new avenues for bilateral partnerships
and a visit to Samsung's new smartphone factory,
set to be the world's largest, for a ribbon
cutting ceremony.
Samsung has invested over 7-hundred-10 million
U.S. dollars in the project, which adds capacity
to the company's Noida plant, which makes
smartphones, refrigerators and flat-panel
televisions.
Guiding the president around the new plant
and briefing the president will be Samsung
Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong - the
first encounter between President Moon and
the leader of the nation's biggest conglomerate.
It willl also be Lee's first official event
since being released from jail earlier this
year after the Seoul appeals court suspended
his two-and-half year prison term over bribery
and embezzlement charges.
"The first full day for President Moon in
India is dedicated to expanding economic ties
with the world's second most populous nation
that's fast becoming one of the most dynamic
consumer markets.
The president's aides say it reflects the
importance of India, the last great untapped
opportunity for export-driven South Korea...
as it seeks to cut reliance on its two biggest
trade partners.
Traveling with the president, Moon Connyoung,
Arirang News, New Delhi."
