By Na Jeong-ju, Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporters
South Korea and Canada agreed Monday to closely cooperate to develop the agenda for next year's G20 summits as host countries of the world's premier economic forum.
They also agreed to advance bilateral talks on signing a free trade agreement and develop cooperative ties.
The agreements were made at a summit between President Lee Myung-bak and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at Cheong Wa Dae.
Seoul was the last stop on Harper's six-day Asian tour that also took him to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Canada and Korea will host the G20 meetings of the world's 20 major economies in June and November, respectively. To make the events successful and help the global economy get back on track, the two countries will work closely together, the presidential office said in a press release.
The two leaders also discussed the need to cooperate to help countries settle differences on greenhouse gas reductions at the U.N. Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, which seeks to replace the U.N. Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012. President Lee plans to make a three-day visit to Copenhagen from Dec. 17.
"Based on the close ties the two countries have maintained in the past, Lee and Harper agreed to deepen their economic and cultural relations and strengthen cooperation in global forums," Cheong Wa Dae said.
"In particular, they agreed to push bilateral negotiations on the free trade deal forward as it will enhance Korea-Canada economic and diplomatic ties."
It was the third bilateral summit between Lee and Harper this year. They met on the sidelines of the expanded G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, last July and the G20 Summit in Pittsburg, Pa., in September.
In his speech at the National Assembly earlier in the day, Prime Minister Harper called for a stronger and closer partnership between the two countries.
Harper said it would be hard to find two countries better suited for each other as trading partners.
"We are ideal partners," he said. "Canada has the energy and minerals Korea needs to fuel future growth. Korea has a genius for manufacturing. Canada has a world-class financial services sector. Korean industry needs access to capital."
Harper said the two nations could become an ideal model for bringing the economies of the East and the West together.
"It is for all these reasons ― our natural trade advantages, our commitment to economic principles that work and our old and true friendship ― that we should expand our horizons," he said.
Harper said the time was ripe for the two countries to lead the quest for a more balanced, equitable and prosperous world for all.
"When would be a better time? The invisible hand of the marketplace is already pointing the direction we need to go," he said. "Your energy sector is investing in our oil sands. Our combined know-how in carbon capture and storage technology is reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Your electronics manufacturers have millions of Canadian customers. Our agricultural producers are providing Koreans with safe, high-quality food."
Harper also called for an early conclusion of the free trade agreement with Seoul, saying the bilateral trade deal was necessary for the two to expand the volume of trade and investment in the future.
The two countries have been negotiating the terms of the trade accord since early 2005.
He said Canada and Korea would achieve unprecedented levels of cooperation and friendship in 2010 as hosts of the G20 Summits.
"Let us join hands in an historic year of G20 leadership and move forward.I have great confidence that 2010 is going to be the year that Canada and Korea achieve unprecedented levels of co-operation and friendship," he said.
Harper said the decisions coming from G20 nations, which are responsible for 85 percent of the world's GDP, will be of enormous consequence.
"For Canada and Korea, this is a unique opportunity, and a unique responsibility. We must lead the way," he said.
He also stressed the need for the two allies to focus attention on the global economy and ensure a balanced and sustainable recovery.
"We must draw from leaders a credible plan for exiting the nations of the world from the extraordinary measures of the past year and returning the global economy to a path of sustainable growth as the recovery takes hold," he said.
In regard to Korea's extraordinary economic and social progress, he said, "Your exceptional success has been called 'The Miracle on the Han River.' But it is no miracle."
Harper said the success was due to the "resilience, determination and ingenuity of the Korean people, and the intrinsic worth of the high principles you have embraced -freedom, democracy, free trade and open markets."