President Lee set for trip to Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia

President Lee set for trip to Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will embark on a
three-nation trip next month, during which he will stop in New Zealand and
Australia to announce the official start of bilateral free trade talks, the
presidential office said Wednesday.
The seven-day trip, starting on March 2, will also take him to Indonesia where he
will meet with his counterpart to discuss various bilateral and international
issues of mutual interest, the office said.
"Australia and Indonesia are also members of the G-20 summit, so President Lee
and their heads of state will discuss ways to increase economic cooperation ahead
of the G-20 summit," Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the presidential office, told
a press briefing. The G-20 meeting is slated to be held in London this April.
Lee heads first to Auckland, New Zealand, for a two-day visit.
"President Lee and New Zealand Prime Minister (John) Key are set to announce the
start of negotiations for a free trade agreement to help improve economic
relations between the two countries, and will seek ways to cooperate in
developing renewable and bio energy," the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said
in a press release.
Lee will be in Australia March 4-5 to meet with Governor General Quentin Bryce
and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
"President Lee is also scheduled to announce the official start of negotiations
for an FTA with Australia while on a state visit there," the statement said.
He will also host functions for South Korean expatriates in Australia and New
Zealand, as well as for Korean and local business leaders in those countries.
Lee's trip will end in Jakarta, where he will hold official talks with his
Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on ways to increase bilateral
cooperation.
"The two heads of state will also discuss ways to cooperate in promoting trade
and investment and in countering the global financial crisis. In addition, they
will also discuss regional issues, such as ways to increase cooperation between
South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to which Indonesia is
party," Cheong Wa Dae said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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