S. Korean special envoy, Spanish PM discuss cooperation, exchanges

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- A special envoy for South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak met with Spain's prime minister and discussed ways to bolster bilateral
diplomatic and economic ties, the government here said Friday.

Former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo met with his Spanish counterpart Jose Louis
Rodriguez Zapatero on Thursday and delivered a letter from President Lee, the
foreign ministry said.
The letter underlined the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship
between the two countries and strengthening cooperative projects ahead of the
60th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties next year, according to
the ministry.
The two sides exchanged views on expanding practical cooperation in a range of
areas, including trade, investment and development of renewable energy, and
promised to work closely to deepen their relations through exchanges of personnel
and joint events commemorating their longstanding ties, it said.
Han requested Spain's cooperation in the ratification of the recently-initialed
South Korea-European Union (EU) free trade agreement and for Seoul's successful
hosting of the G-20 summit in November of next year.
The EU was South Korea's second-largest trading partner after China last year,
with two-way trade totaling US$98.4 billion and with South Korea enjoying a
surplus of $18.4 billion.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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