Lee urges APEC economies to promote free trade, regional integration

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called on the
member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to promote free
trade in their region to help the world overcome the global economic crisis.

The South Korean leader said he will also seek to promote regional integration at
the annual summit of the economic forum in Singapore this week.
"At this year's summit, I will work to promote cooperation within the APEC and a
new future-oriented agenda, such as economic integration in the Asian-Pacific
region, that will help prepare the world for a balanced growth of the global
economy in the next 20 years," President Lee said in a written interview with
Singapore's English-language daily, The Straits Times, published Friday.
Lee was due in the Southeast Asian city-state later Friday for the APEC summit,
which will also be attended by the leaders of 20 other economies on the Pacific
rim, including U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama.
"The upcoming summit will especially focus on Asia's strategy for post-crisis
growth, and as the chair of the G-20 economic summit next year, South Korea will
propose ways to take APEC leaders' valuable ideas within the G-20 process," Lee
said, according to a full text of the interview released here by his presidential
office Cheong Wa Dae.
Lee said the world has worked effectively to fight the global financial and
economic crisis that unfolded late last year, but said the countries must
continue to take bold measures.
"South Korea will continue to maintain its expansionary policy initiative as
there are still economic uncertainties here and abroad," he said.
"We will also intensify our cooperation with other countries in the Asian region,
such as China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, that are showing
signs of quick recovery and growing trade with our nation to further improve our
competitiveness in the trade sector," Lee added.
The South Korean president also called on APEC members to join their efforts to
help solve problems facing the world, such as climate change and the North Korean
nuclear issue.
"While preparing for a resumption of its bilateral dialogue with North Korea,
South Korea will continue its efforts to bring the North to the negotiating table
on its denuclearization," Lee said.
The president also called for improved ties between his country and Singapore,
saying cooperation between the two in various areas, including the financial and
medical sectors and green technology, will bring "mutually beneficial results."
Lee will hold a bilateral summit with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
shortly after his arrival in the country later in the day.
He is set to return home Sunday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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