By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun, left, and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo walk outside of the Korea-Philippines Information and Technology Center in northeastern Manila, Friday. The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) donated $5 million to Manila to build the vocational center at the Quezon Institute of Technology in Bulacan under a 2003 agreement. /Yonhap
President Roh Moo-hyun returned home Friday after wrapping up a Southeast Asian tour in which he tried to strengthen South Korea’s economic ties with nations in the region and expand the nation’s role in building an East Asian community.
While seeking ways of improving the country’s relations with Malaysia and the Philippines, Roh tried to play a leading role in the ASEAN+3 Summit and the first East Asian Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur. ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

``The tour has largely contributed to the promotion of the nation’s interests and status in the region by institutionalizing cooperative ties with ASEAN and actively participating in the formation of the East Asian community,’’ Roh’s spokesman Kim Man-soo said.

On the first leg of his nine-day trip, Roh made a state visit to Malaysia Dec. 9-11 for a summit with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in such fields as energy and information-technology (IT).

The two countries signed agreements on cooperation between small and medium-sized businesses and the oil industry, after the summit. They, in particular, decided to launch a joint oil project between Petronas of Malaysia and the Korea National Oil Corporation.

Roh also visited Putrajaya, the new administrative center for Malaysia’s federal government located about 25 kilometers from the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and looked around Samsung’s Seremban Complex.

During his stay in Malaysia, Roh also attended the ASEAN+3 Summit of leaders of the 10 member states of the ASEAN, South Korea, China and Japan.

Roh signed with the ASEAN leaders a ``framework agreement’’ which forms the basic structure of a free trade agreement (FTA) that will create a market of 548 million people with a combined economy of more than $1.4 trillion.

He proposed a new joint IT project with the ASEAN countries to help narrow the digital divide among the Southeast Asian economies and build a more integrated community based on state-of-the-art technologies.

In the inaugural East Asia Summit joined by Australia, New Zealand and India in addition to the ASEAN+3 nations Wednesday, Roh also suggested that nations deepen cooperation by making joint efforts to fight transnational problems such as terrorism and avian influenza.

Roh solicited support from the Asian leaders for Seoul’s peace and prosperity policy and efforts to bring about the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear standoff.

In another development, Roh urged Japan’s sincere attitude over the history disputes for the future of East Asia.

In the Philippines, Roh and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed to substantially strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially in the IT and energy fields.

jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr