Trade between S. Korea, ASEAN to top US$160 bln this year

SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Yonhap) -- Two-way trade between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to top US$160 billion this year, a senior financial regulator said Monday, as Seoul seeks to bolster ties with the 10-member regional bloc.

Kim Yong-beom, vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), made the remarks at an annual meeting with ambassadors from the Southeast Asian nations and India.

In the first 10 months of this year, trade volume between South Korea and ASEAN stood at $132.1 billion, up 7.6 percent on-year, Kim told the meeting.

"Within this year, two-way trade with ASEAN is expected to top $160 billion and the number of visitors between the two sides is likely to surpass 10 million," Kim said.

South Korean financial firms are also expected to extend their operations in ASEAN member states, Kim said.

The number of branches of South Korean financial companies in ASEAN and India stood at 162, Kim said.

Seoul has sought stronger economic relations with ASEAN under President Moon Jae-in's "New Southern Policy" to reduce its heavy reliance on China. It set a goal of raising bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2020.

kdh@yna.co.kr
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