South Korean President Moon Jae-in embarked on a four-day state visit to Russia on Thursday, becoming the first sitting president to head to the Eurasian country in 19 years since late President Kim Dae-jung in 1999.

Moon will hold his third summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office in May, last year, on Friday, where he is expected to seek Russia’s strong support towards achieving complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and peace regime.

Moon will be accompanied by about 200 business delegates including chief executives of major large companies seeking to boost bilateral economic partnership. The delegation in particular composes of a large group of executives from companies engaged in businesses in North Korea that hope to boost inter-Korean economic cooperation projects following the historic summit between the leaders of two Koreas in late April.

The delegation includes Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, Korea Electric Power Corporation President Kim Jong-kap, Korea Railroad Corporation President Oh Young-sik, and Korea Gas Corporation President Jung Seung-il. They will discuss business cooperation on linking the two Koreas and Russia by railroad and promoting partnerships on building electric and gas infrastructure.

From large conglomerates, the delegation has been joined by Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Yoon Boo-keun, Hyundai Motor Co. President Chung Jin-haeng, LG Electronics Inc. Vice Chairman Jo Seong-jin, LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-yeol, SK Innovation Co. President Kim Joon, Lotte Group Vice Chairman Song Yong-dok, and Hanwha Corp. President Lee Min-suhk. They will attend the Korea-Russia business forum jointly hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in Moscow on Friday, local time.

On the last day of his state visit to Russia, meanwhile, President Moon will travel to Rostov-on-Don, one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to watch the match between South Korea and Mexico.

By Kang Gye-man and Lee Eun-joo

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