S. Korea, Costa Rica agree to boost IT cooperation

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Costa Rica have agreed to boost their
bilateral cooperation while also working to improve Seoul's ties with Central
America, the South Korean foreign ministry said Monday.
The agreement came at a meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Yu
Myung-hwan and visiting Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno.
"The two ministers agreed to work together for the success of the Korea-Costa
Rica Biological Resources Center, which is jointly run by their countries, and to
closely cooperate in the IT sector," the ministry said in a press release.
Stagno's three-day visit here began Sunday following his trip to Tokyo for the
Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation, which was also attended by the
South Korean foreign minister.
The Costa Rican foreign minister expressed hope for improved relations between
the countries in other areas as well, including the fisheries industry, noting
the countries have worked together successfully in various sectors since
establishing diplomatic ties in 1962.
The ministers also discussed a possible summit between South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak and the leaders of the Central American Integration System, a group of
seven Central American nations better known as SICA, to help improve Seoul's
relations with Central America, the ministry said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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