By Kim Yon-se
Korea Times Correspondent

WASHINGTON ― President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President George W. Bush shared the view that the free trade agreement (FTA) is important for the two countries' alliance.

During the press conference after his summit talks with Lee at Camp David over the weekend, Bush urged the U.S. Congress not to neglect the South Korean government which is struggling to see U.S. assemblymen's ratification of the FTA.

Bush emphasized that the U.S. Congress ``should not turn its back on a friend and ally like Korea,'' expressing his discontent about Democrats' cynical attitude toward the Korea-U.S. FTA.

He insisted that the FTA would further deepen and strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations, to the significant benefit of both nations. ``The Korea free-trade agreement is a priority for this administration, and we will press hard with the United States Congress,'' he said.

Saying that he ate U.S. beef (produced in Texas) with Lee at the dinner talks on Saturday, Bush said he ``appreciates'' the Korean government's decision to allow U.S. beef, regardless of cattle age or bone-containing.

The two leaders noted that in a time of economic uncertainty, agreements like the FTA that will create additional jobs and opportunities for both nations are particularly valuable.

Lee and Bush pledged to make every effort to urge their respective legislatures to approve the accord by the end of the year.

Lee said, ``Bush and I shared the view that it is necessary to further deepen economic cooperation in order for both countries to prosper together.''

Lee outlined the new administration's policies to create a world-class economic environment by bringing Korea's economic system and practices in line with global standards.

Bush expressed his full support for the policies, noting that they would greatly contribute to Korea's economic growth and its efforts to attract foreign investment.

They also shared the view that Korea's participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be an important turning point in upgrading the bilateral relationship in various economic, social, and cultural areas.

The two leaders agreed to make every effort to realize Korea's participation in the VWP within this year, and in this regard welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding on the VWP that was signed during Lee's visit.

Sharing the view that youth exchanges are important for the development of bilateral relations, they agreed to establish youth exchange and networking programs and explore ways to enhance cooperation in the academic and human exchange fields including the possible expansion of relevant programs.

They reemphasized that a nuclear-armed North Korea will not be condoned.

North Korea missed a Dec. 31 deadline for making the declaration. The U.S. is sending a team to North Korea next week to complete the declaration and allow the process of denuclearization to proceed.

Asked why the North's taken so long to follow through on their promise of full declaration, Bush said, ``Why don't we just wait and see what they say before people go out there and start giving their opinions about whether this is a good deal or a bad deal?''

He also said, ``The key thing is we haven't abandoned the efforts to solve this peacefully and diplomatically.''

The leaders affirmed that the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means, and committed to making utmost efforts through the Six-Party Talks process to urge North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program expeditiously.

Lee explained his policy to implement the ``Denuclearization, Openness, 3000'' initiative on the premise that North Korea dismantles its nuclear programs, and President Bush expressed his full support for the initiative.

``I think it is unconstructive to have too many doubts before the process begins,'' Lee said.

Bush expressed that once North Korea makes a strategic decision to denuclearize and puts it into action, the U.S. will actively explore ways to improve relations with North Korea correspondingly.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr