Lee calls for green partnership between S. Korea, Vietnam

By Byun Duk-kun

HANOI, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak proposed on Wednesday a "green partnership" with Vietnam for joint efforts against global warming and an economic alliance that would bolster the two countries' bilateral ties.

Speaking at a luncheon with some 250 business leaders of the two sides, Lee
emphasized the green partnership will provide an "unlimited" amount of new
opportunities for both of them while improving their competitiveness in the
international market by combining their strengths, his presidential office Cheong
Wa Dae said in a press release.
The South Korean president arrived here Tuesday for a summit with his Vietnamese
counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet, at which the two leaders agreed to upgrade the
relationship between their countries to a "strategic partnership."
Lee also called for increased cooperation and exchange between the countries'
citizens.
"The president stressed the need to expand people-to-people exchanges, noting
increased personnel exchanges will lead to cultural exchanges, which in turn will
help both sides better understand each other," the press release said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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