S. Korean leader embarks on weeklong trip to India, Switzerland

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak left Sunday for
India to hold a summit with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on boosting
bilateral relations and partnership on the global stage, a trip that Lee's aides
say is in line with his "New Asia Diplomacy" aimed at upgrading Seoul's ties with
Asian neighbors.
On his way to New Delhi, Lee will stop over in Chennai on the southeast coast of
India, where factories of South Korean industrial giants Hyundai Motor Co. and
Samsung Electronics Co. are located, according to his office. It will be the
first visit to India by a South Korean president since 2004.
After a meeting with South Korean businessmen there during a brief stay, the
president will head to New Delhi, where he will hold a summit with the prime
minister Monday and issue a joint statement laying out a vision for the two
nations' ties.
A set of documents to be signed includes memorandums of understanding on closer
cooperation between the two nations in the aerospace, science and technology
sectors, as well as inmate repatriation.
The leaders will "discuss ways to promote the two countries' relations in various
sectors including diplomacy, security, economy, trade, science and technology,
society, and culture," said Kim Eun-hye, spokeswoman for the presidential office,
Cheong Wa Dae.
In addition, South Korea hopes to export its KT-1 basic trainer jet to India and
expand cooperation in nuclear energy with India, encouraged by its $20 billion
contract to build four reactors in the United Arab Emirates last month.
Kim pointed out Lee's trip to India, his first overseas visit this year, is part
of South Korea's efforts to improve relations with Asian countries.
The following day, Lee will be the "Chief Guest" at a Republic Day event, India's
largest national celebration, meeting leaders of local political and business
circles there.
Lee is also scheduled to meet a group of South Korean residents in India. More
than 8,500 South Koreans reside there, according to official data.
Indian Ambassador to South Korea Skand R. Tayal told Yonhap News Agency last
week, "The entire range of the growing and friendly bilateral relations between
the two countries would be reviewed (during Lee's trip)."
On Wednesday, the president will fly to the Swiss city of Zurich, where he will
meet FIFA President Joseph Blatter to express South Korea's strong desire to host
the 2022 World Cup finals.
Lee will then head to Davos, a nearby ski resort, to attend an annual meeting
organized by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, which brings together global
intellectuals, politicians and business leaders.
On Jan. 28, the president will deliver a special address titled "Seoul G-20:
Summit Priorities and Challenges," in which he will unveil his vision for the
November G-20 economic summit in the South Korean capital.
British public broadcaster BBC and the U.S.-based global cable news channel CNN
plan to conduct in-depth interviews with Lee in Davos to shed light on his push
to raise South Korea's international status.
Lee is to return to Seoul on Jan. 30.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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