S. Korea, Germany to discuss G-20, trade, reunification

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and German leaders were to hold talks here
later Monday to discuss ways to boost cooperation at the G-20 economic forum and
facilitate the implementation of the free trade agreement between Seoul and the
European Union, South Korea's presidential office said.

German President Horst Kohler arrived in Seoul Sunday, becoming the first German
president to travel to South Korea in eight years.
"President Lee Myung-bak and President Kohler plan to have in-depth discussions
on the G-20 summit in November and Germany's cooperation in having the South
Korea-EU agreement take effect at an early date," Cheong Wa Dae said.
South Korea is scheduled to host the G-20 summit on Nov. 11-12 this year. South
Korea, one of Asia's major economies, struck a provisional deal on free trade
with the European bloc last year. The two sides are expected to sign a formal
agreement in May this year.
Also to be discussed at Monday's summit are bilateral issues on promoting trade
and investment and bolstering partnership on recycling energy, green growth, and
science and technology, as well as regional and global issues such as climate
change and the security condition on the Korean Peninsula, according to Cheong Wa
Dae. South Korea, seeking to reunite with the communist North Korea, hopes to
take lessons from Germany's experience of reunification.
In an interview with Yonhap News Agency last week, Kohler said South Korea will
be able to deal with the cost burden and other challenges expected to arise from
reunification.
"Considering South Korea's capability and creativity, I'm sure that Seoul can
overcome the political and economical challenges on its way to unification," he
said.
After the summit, meanwhile, the German president plans to meet National Assembly
Speaker Kim Hyong-o and cultural and religious leaders.
On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet a group of German businessmen in South Korea
and Sakong Il, chairman of the Presidential Committee for the G-20 Summit. After
also meeting South Korean business leaders. Kohler is to depart Seoul on
Wednesday.
Kohler, former chief of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, was
elected as German president in 2004. He visited South Korea in June 2000 and
February 2004 in his capacity as managing director at the International Monetary
Fund.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)

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