President Lee Myung-bak hosted a luncheon for Denmark's crown prince couple Friday and the two sides discussed bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest, the presidential office said.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary arrived Thursday for a six-day official visit that includes attending an international conference on green growth, the opening ceremony of the World Expo in the southwestern port city of Yeosu and a visit to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.

During Friday's meeting, Lee expressed gratitude for Denmark sending a hospital ship to help Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War and helping the Asian nation modernize its medical and agricultural sectors, the presidential office said in a statement.

Lee said he hopes the crown price couple's trip will further deepen ties between the sides.

Prince Frederik said he believes relations between the two countries will move forward in a future-oriented way based on a "strategic partnership" and a "green growth alliance" that they forged during Lee's state visit to the European nation last year, the office said.

Lee said the crown prince's attendance in the World Expo's opening ceremony will contribute to the event's success, and Prince Frederik appreciated South Korea's successful hosting of a series of major international events like a G20 summit and this year's Nuclear Security Summit, it said.

On Thursday, Prince Frederik met with Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik. (Yonhap)