By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak, accompanied by first lady Kim Yoon-ok, will make a seven-day visit to New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia starting today.
Lee will hold a summit with leaders of the countries to discuss the global financial crisis, green growth, energy and resources development, and bilateral trade accords.
During his stay in New Zealand until Wednesday, Lee will have talks with Prime Minister John Key and announce the commencement of formal negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, according to aides.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss bilateral cooperation in ``low carbon, green growth," which involves new and renewable energy, bioenergy and forestation.
They will also seek ways to expand bilateral exchanges in information and telecommunications, education, culture and human resources; and how to overcome the global financial turmoil and allow Korean companies to participate in building a broadband infrastructure in New Zealand.
President Lee will then fly to Canberra, Australia, Thursday for a summit with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and is also expected to strike a deal to start FTA negotiations.
The two leaders will discuss joint responses to climate change and the global financial crisis, and ways to promote Korean studies in Australia to increase bilateral exchanges in culture and human resources.
On Friday, Lee will arrive in Indonesia on the third and last leg of his trip to hold a summit with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The two will look at ways to jointly develop bioenergy, forest plantations and underground resources, including copper mines and oil fields.
They will also adopt measures to expand economic cooperation, the establishment of a task force for cooperation, and the promotion of bilateral exchanges in forest management, science and technology.
``Australia and Indonesia are members of the G-20, so President Lee, Prime Minister Rudd and President Yudhoyono will also discuss related issues ahead of the G-20 summit,'' a Cheong Wa Dae official said. The G-20 meeting is slated for April 2 in London.
Lee is scheduled to return home March 8.