Lee to Meet Bush, Medvedev Today
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak is scheduled to hold summits today with U.S. President George W. Bush, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit, after arriving in Toyako, Japan, Tuesday.
``Lee and Bush will discuss various issues of mutual concern, such as South Korea's resumption of U.S. beef imports, the free trade agreement and the U.S. plan to implement a visa waiver program for South Koreans,'' a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said. ``The summit is also expected to lay the groundwork for Bush's planned visit to Seoul in early August.''
Bush plans to visit South Korea Aug. 5-6 on his way to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
Also on the discussion table will be North Korea's nuclear program.
Lee called on Pyongyang to abandon its weapons program Monday, saying he is willing to meet with the North's leader Kim Jong-il at any time.
The following day, North Korea called the proposal ``preposterous'' and claimed it won't deal with Lee as long as he ignores inter-Korean agreements signed by his predecessors.
During his talks with the Russian President, Lee will discuss ideas to jointly develop the Siberian area, boost exchanges of space technologies and strengthen cooperation in energy development, the official said.
Leaders of the G8 _ the United States, Japan, Russia, France, Britain, Canada, Italy and Germany _ began their three-day summit on Monday, with global warming and soaring oil and food prices topping the agenda.
Lee is the first South Korean president to participate in the G8 summit, which will continue through Wednesday at Toyako in northern Japan.
Lee, along with the leaders of 13 other non-G8 countries _ China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Indonesia and a group of seven African nations_ was invited to this year's summit as an observer. He will return to Seoul today.
``During the G8 summit, Lee will focus on strengthening collaboration with other countries in tackling climate change and skyrocketing oil and raw materials prices,'' the spokesman said.
President Lee met with the leaders of India, Brazil and Mexico, Tuesday.
During talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Lee discussed ways to boost economic ties with the countries, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Lee and Indian Prime Minister Singh agreed to accelerate ongoing negotiations for the conclusion of a bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) in a bid to further expand two-way trade, which topped $10 billion last year, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Meeting with Brazilian President Silva, Lee expressed wishes for closer bilateral cooperation in the energy and natural resources sectors, according to Yonhap.
He also met Korean residents in Japan.