Download - Korea.net

DIPLOMACY
1 2
3 4
President Lee held separate talks with Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov (1), Algerian President Bouteflika (2), Kazakhstan’s President Nazarbayev (3) and
Uzbekistan’s President Karimov (4) during his visit to Beijing from Aug. 8 to 9
government-level review of a bilateral free trade agreement
on the basis of private-sector joint studies and research,
while deepening bilateral cooperation in the fields of environmental
protection, energy, communications, financial
services and logistics.
As part of efforts to promote private sector exchanges,
the two leaders also agreed to designate 2010 and 2012 as
“Visit China Year” and “Visit Korea Year,” respectively.
Talks with Australian leader Rudd
President Lee and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
agreed on Aug. 11 to launch preliminary talks for a bilateral
free trade agreement and to widen their cooperation in
energy, trade and regional security.
“They welcomed the conclusion of a bilateral FTA study
group that a two-way free trade deal would be beneficial to
both countries’ economic growth and trade expansion,” a
Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said. The two countries concluded
a joint private-level assessment of an FTA early this
year. An FTA is estimated to increase Korea’s gross domestic
product by up to $29.6 billon over 10 years and
Australia’s by $22.7 billion, according to a study. Korea’s
exports to Australia will increase by up to $4.3 billion and
Australia’s shipments by $7.5 billion. Two-way trade is estimated
at 17.9 billion last year. Australia is Korea’s eighth
largest trading partner.
They also agreed that the two countries would forge a
comprehensive partnership, expanding ties currently focused
on economy and trade into other areas. They also
pledged to strengthen diplomatic cooperation in the Asia-
Pacific region and the global arena to work together on climate
change, arms control, nonproliferation and other international
issues. Australia is Korea’s biggest trading and
investment partner in the mineral resource sector.
Lee’s diplomacy during Beijing Olympics
With an eye to energy diplomacy, President Lee met with
leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and
Algeria on Aug. 8 and 9 in Beijing, where he was visiting to
attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
President Lee and Turkmen President Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov agreed to fully support the participation
of Korean companies in an energy resources development
project in the Caspian Sea region. They also agreed to encourage
Korean firms to take part in infrastructure-building
in Turkmenistan.
In his meeting with Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the president
of Algeria, Lee also proposed an expansion of energy development
projects between the two countries. Lee asked the
Algerian government to favorably consider Korean companies
that plan to bid for petroleum and gas exploration and
development programs scheduled for later this year.
Lee also sought the cooperation of the Algerian government
in assisting Korean companies to participate in urban
construction projects.
He also separately met with Kazakhstan’s President
Nursultan Nazarbayev and Uzbekistan’s President Islam
Karimov to discuss issues of mutual concerns.
Lee encountered North Korea’s nominal head of state
Kim Yong-nam at the luncheon hosted by Chinese President
Hu Jintao. A Cheong Wa Dae official said the two Korean
leaders shook hands but no official dialogue took place. ■
‘The FTA Ratification
Will Benefit Korea, U.S.’
President Lee Myung-bak was
confident that whoever became
the next U.S. president would
support the free trade agreement and
an upgraded alliance between the two
counties.
“The FTA not only benefits South
Korea but also has huge potential benefits
for the U.S. economy and consumers.
Whoever becomes the next
U.S. president will look at the hard facts
and make the right decision in the interest
of the U.S. people,” he said in an
interview with world-famous Internet
portal Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com).
This was the first such interview
the Internet powerhouse has conducted
with a non-American leader.
President Lee also expressed confidence
that inter-Korean relations
would improve in the near future despite
recent tension stemming from
the shooting death of a South Korean
tourist in North Korea.
He told that he would continue
with flexible and sincere policies to
bring Pyongyang to the dialogue table
and promote “mutual benefit and coexistence
on the Peninsula.”
“The ties between two Koreas are
tense for now. But the relations will
recover soon as we work on policies
with sincerity and genuine concern
about North Korea,” he said. The interview
was conducted on Aug. 14. at
Cheong Wa Dae.
The 66-year-old President also
said he believed that the two Koreas
would reunite during his lifetime.
“Reunification can come any day -
and suddenly - so, we must always be
prepared for that,” he added.
On domestic issues, he said the
economy was unlikely to turn around
until the end of next year, appealing to
the nation to unite to weather the
tough conditions.
He also reiterated his commitment
to push economic reforms including
overhauling the public sector and easing
regulations. ■
12 KOREA SEPTEMBER 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008 KOREA 13