Korea, Brunei agree to boost ties, expand economic cooperation

By Byun Duk-kun
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
and the sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, agreed to boost their countries'
bilateral ties Monday, calling for increased cooperation in IT and shipbuilding
industries.

The agreement came in a bilateral summit held here on the sidelines of a special
summit between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"President Lee and Sultan Bolkiah noted the cooperation between their countries
in the energy and natural resource sectors has significantly increased and agreed
to expand their cooperation to other areas, such as IT and shipbuilding
industries, where substantial cooperation can be made," Seoul's presidential
office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.
The leaders also agreed to increase personnel exchanges between their countries,
noting social and cultural exchanges will help further improve their ties, it
said.
Lee and the Brunei monarch will be joined later Monday by nine other leaders of
ASEAN for the start of the special Korea-ASEAN summit that marks the 20th
anniversary of the establishment of a dialogue partnership between the sides. The
summit ends Tuesday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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