Lee promises to double Africa aid in Senegal summit

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak promised Monday
to more than double Seoul's official development aid (ODA) to Africa over the
next three years in his summit talks with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade,
while also pledging to boost economic ties with Senegal.

"President Wade expressed gratitude for our government's ODA and asked President
Lee to continue expanding the development aid," Seoul's presidential office
Cheong Wa Dae said of the summit.
"(Wade) also expressed hope for a chance to learn Korea's development experience
while asking for our government's support to help increase the investment by
South Korean companies to his country."
The Senegalese president arrived here Sunday on a four-day visit that will
include his participation in the second Korea-Africa Forum.
"President Lee said South Korea will expand its ODA to Africa by more than double
in the coming years and that it will continue providing support for Senegal in
the agricultural, social service and education sectors," Cheong Wa Dae said in a
press release.
The leaders also agreed to increase economic cooperation between their countries,
whose bilateral trade jumped more than double to nearly US$50 million last year
from 2005.
Wade praised Seoul's efforts to improve its overall relations with African
nations while President Lee said Seoul, which will assume the chairmanship of the
G-20 economic summit in 2010, will work to promote Africa's interests at the
economic forum.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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