Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo visited the World Expo in the southern coastal city of Yeosu Monday to become the first head of state to attend a National Pavilion Day celebration.

Lugo attended the event to commemorate the Paraguay National Day at the Expo Hall along with several other officials from the Latin American state.

The World Expo organizing committee has allocated one day to each of the 104 participating countries, holding events to welcome their participation in the 93-day Expo, the first Paris-based Bureau of International Exhibitions hosted by South Korea since the 1993 Daejeon Expo.

The Paraguay National Day event features Paraguay's traditional cultural performances and the signing of memorandums of understanding between officials of the two countries to help promote exports and invite Paraguayan workers for vocational training.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak plans to meet with Lugo on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and bolster substantial cooperation in trade, investment and development cooperation.

Lugo flew into Seoul Sunday for his second trip to South Korea, following a visit in 2008 as president-elect of the Latin American nation.

Korea and Paraguay forged diplomatic ties in 1962. Trade volume between the two countries amounted to US$205 million last year. (Yonhap)