Bali (Indonesia): Ahead of the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Summit, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on October 6 held discussions with leaders of South Korea and Vietnam on the need for the United Nations playing a "greater role" in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of war- ravaged Iraq.

Arriving in Bali amidst tight security for taking part in the second India-ASEAN Summit, a year after the devastating blast that killed over 200 people, mostly foreign tourists, Vajpayee met South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun. The role of the UN in the context of the Iraq situation figured prominently in the wide-ranging parleys.

Both Vajpayee and Roh discussed the recently concluded UN General Assembly Session in New York. The Prime Minister also held detailed parleys with his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Khai on ways to double the volume of bilateral trade and enhance co-operation in the Information Technology sector.

During the discussions that lasted half-an-hour, Roh Moo Hyun briefed Vajpayee on the developments in North Korea, which has reportedly embarked on a nuclear weapons programme.

Giving details of the two bilateral parleys, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters that the Prime Minister and the Korean leader agreed to accord a boost to high-level bilateral exchanges and revive the Joint Commission between the two countries.

PTI