(LEAD) Visiting ASEAN leaders meet Korean executives over investment

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 5, 7, 9)
SEOUL, May 31 (Yonhap) -- Several Southeast Asian leaders, visiting the country
for a special summit with President Lee Myung-bak, have met with South Korean
businessmen for discussions on closer cooperation in investment, local officials
said Sunday.

Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations have flown to the
country for the South Korea-ASEAN summit which begins Monday to discuss the
expansion of economic ties and ways of overcoming the global economic crisis. The
two-day commemorative summit will begin Monday on the South Korean resort island
of Jeju.
Keen to discuss investment possibilities and joint-business ideas with local
enterprises, several foreign leaders requested meetings with Korean executives
prior to the summit, an official at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(KCCI) said.
The prime minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva, had an informal gathering with
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) President and CEO Kim Ssang-su, Korea Gas
Corp. CEO Choo Kang-soo and Shim Kyu-sang, the president of Doosan Heavy
Industries and Construction, explaining the foreign investment environment in his
country.
KEPCO is pushing to build a 4,000 MW nuclear power plant in Thailand, while
Doosan has obtained Thai orders to build a coal-fired power plant and a
desalination plant and is now seeking to take part in the country's expressway
and subway construction projects.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park
Sam-koo, Dongyang Trading president Kim Hi-yong, Daewoo Engineering &
Construction President CEO Seo Jong-uk and Hana Bank president Choi Chong-suk.
Kumho Asiana, Kumho Tire and Hyosung Corp. are actively involved in various
business projects in Vietnam, with Daewoo Engineering pushing to participate in
new town and social infrastructure projects.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met with Korea Land Corp. CEO Lee Jong-sang,
Cambosiana president Shin Jong-man and Tomato Savings Bank president Shin
Hyun-kyu.
"Through my ongoing visit, Cambodia plans to seal eight investment deals with
South Korea. Investments in Cambodia will have unlimited potential," Hun Sen was
quoted as saying in his meeting with the Korean executives.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has also requested meetings with local
business leaders including Samsung Thales president Kim In-soo on Monday, the
KCCI said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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