Park, Modi call for efforts to boost ties

South Korean and Indian leaders called Wednesday for joint efforts to further boost bilateral cooperation as they met on the sidelines of a regional summit in Myanmar.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the success of India's space agency in placing a probe in orbit around Mars in September, the first such achievement by an Asian country.

It marked the first time that Park has met with Modi since May, when he took office in the world's largest democracy and second-most populous country.

The two leaders arrived in Myanmar's capital earlier in the day for annual summits with Asian and other regional partners to discuss a wide range of issues and bolster cooperation with one of the world's fastest-growing regions.

The trip comes after Park wrapped up the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing, an annual meeting meant to boost trade among its 21 member economies, including the United States.

Also Wednesday, Park was to attend a welcoming banquet to be hosted by Myanmar's president for the leaders who came to the Southeast Asian country for the East Asia Summit, according to Park's office.

The East Asia Summit is an 18-nation forum grouping the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus its eight dialogue partners -- South Korea, China, Japan, the U.S., Russia, Australia, India and New Zealand.

On Thursday, participants in the East Asia Summit could discuss ways to tackle global issues such as the Ebola virus and the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, according to Park's office.

Park also plans to attend a summit between the ASEAN and its three Northeast Asian dialogue partners -- South Korea, China and Japan.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

She plans to use the ASEAN+3 summit to call for joint efforts to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear programs.

On Tuesday, Park and her U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, pledged to further strengthen efforts for the denuclearization of North Korea, a South Korean official said.

Park and Obama met on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Beijing.

Despite international pressure, North Korea has repeatedly vowed to develop its economy and nuclear arsenal in tandem, viewing its nuclear programs as a powerful deterrent against what it claims is Washington's hostile policy toward it.

From Myanmar, Park will fly to Brisbane, Australia, for a summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies. The summit's wide-ranging agenda includes anti-corruption issues, development and trade. (Yonhap)