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President Lee Myung-bak will hold a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Shanghai today to discuss ways of expanding the strategic partnership between the two countries and the situation in Northeast Asia, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The summit comes at a time when an investigation team, involving experts from the United States, Australia and Sweden, point to a North Korean torpedo attack as the likely cause of the sinking of the Navy ship Cheonan that claimed the lives of 46 sailors.
The government has expressed its intent to report the interim results of an ongoing investigation into the naval disaster to China and Russia and consult with them on the possibility of referring the issue to the United Nations Security Council.
President Lee is also expected to meet with North Korea's No. 2, Kim Yong-nam, when they participate in the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Expo, diplomatic sources here said.
Lee and Kim are among the state guests who have been invited by President Hu. Before the ceremony, they will attend a welcome dinner for foreign guests hosted by the Chinese leader.
On Saturday, President Lee will visit the Korean and Chinese pavilions at the Expo.
A total of 192 countries and 52 international organizations will participate in the Expo, which will continue through Oct. 31.
Lee will also meet with Korean residents there before returning home in the afternoon.
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