Five middle-power nations to hold high-level talks

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and four other middle-power countries will hold high-level talks later this week on ways to strengthen partnerships, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

South Korea launched the forum in 2013 with Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey and Australia in a bid to play a bigger role in regional and global issues. The cross-regional caucus is dubbed "MIKTA" from the initials of the English names of the participating nations.

The five sides plan to hold their second high-level meeting in the Australian capital of Canberra on Thursday, said the ministry.

They plan to discuss ways for closer ties and plans to open a foreign ministerial session in the first half of this year.

lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)