Ministerial representatives of South Korea, China, Japan and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold an annual round of talks in Vietnam on Wednesday.

The ministers are expected to focus discussions on boosting financial cooperation in the region and promoting economic integration.

Later in the afternoon, the ministers of Australia, New Zealand and India will join the group for a meeting of ministers from 16 countries to discuss regional economic integration.

On Thursday, the foreign ministers of South Korea and ASEAN member nations will hold a meeting. On Friday, the ASEAN Regional Forum will open for discussions on key regional issues.

Meanwhile, North Korea’s delegation to the regional forum, led by Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun, is reportedly scheduled to arrive in Hanoi on Wednesday evening.

Friday’s regional gathering is expected to be attended by the foreign ministers of all the member states of the six-way nuclear talks.