By Kim Yon-se
Korea Times Correspondent
WASHINGTON ― President Lee Myung-bak, who left Washington for U.S. presidential retreat Camp David on Friday, held dinner talks with George W. Bush ahead of their official summit talks, slated for Saturday.
While the two leaders held closed-door dinner talks as a private meeting, there is a possibility that Bush expressed gratitude for South Korea's decision to ``fully'' open the beef market to the United States, Lee's aides said.
Any of their spokesmen was not allowed to enter the meeting venue.
``It seems that the leaders carried on a private conversation,'' a presidential secretary said. But he said there is a possibility that Lee and Bush exchanged well-meant remarks on Korea's beef market opening and prospects on parliamentary ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA).
The leaders will unveil their agreements _ via the scheduled press conference _ after holding the official talks for about an hour from 09:30 a.m. in America's Eastern Time (10:30 p.m. in Korean Standard Time).
On landing at Camp David by helicopter Friday afternoon, Lee
and first lady Kim Yoon-ok were welcomed by Bush and his wife Laura Bush.
Lee drove a golf cart, with Bush seated in the assistant driver's seat, to the cabin area, while Laura Bush drove a separate golf cart for Kim. During the cart ride, Bush praised Lee as a ``fine driver'' and jokingly told reporters, ``He (Lee) is afraid of my driving.'' Lee shared a joke, saying, ``He (Bush) is guest.''
Lee presented a traditional Korean bow to Bush as a gift, while the U.S. leader gave a leather jacket with Lee's English initials ``MB Lee'' inscribed. The first ladies exchanged gifts of teacup sets.
On Thursday, the Korean government decided to import U.S. beef regardless of cattle age and bone-containing.
Though Korea resumed import of U.S. beef in 2006, the nation has been importing boneless beef from cattle aged less than 30 months amid ongoing anxiety about mad cow disease.