S. Korea, Australia to cooperate on implementing G-20 agreements

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd held talks here Saturday and agreed to join
forces to prevent the spread of the economic crisis and promote closer
international cooperation in staving off a recession in the real economy, Lee's
spokesman said.
The meeting between Lee and Rudd came after they both attended the Group of 20
financial summit held here earlier on Saturday for discussions over the global
financial crisis, said presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
"Lee and Rudd shared the view that the just-concluded G-20 summit produced a
consensus on the prevention of trade protectionism and worldwide cooperation in
staving off the recurrence of a financial crisis," said spokesman Lee.
"The leaders then agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation to help maintain
momentum for international cooperation agreed upon at the G-20 summit."
In addition, the two leaders agreed to steadily enhance bilateral relations in
the fields of defense industry, energy and resources and to continue to hold
government-level negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement.
Lee and Rudd already held summit talks in August in Seoul and have since spoken
frequently by phone to discuss closer policy coordination in bilateral and global
issues.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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