Leaders Vow Cooperation but Differ on Specifics
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak and Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the largest opposition Democratic Party (DP), agreed Thursday to seek bipartisan cooperation to help the country rise above economic, political and diplomatic challenges.
But they failed to iron out differences on some specific issues, such as the government's plan to slash taxes on the owners of high-priced properties and its move to allow major newspapers to own stakes in broadcasting firms.
Lee and Chung reached an eight-point agreement at their first one-on-one talks at Cheong Wa Dae, according to the presidential office and the opposition party.
The agreement calls for cooperation to improve inter-Korean relations; to set up fundamental measures to counter global financial market instability; to protect local companies from the fallout of a U.S. credit crisis; to open a ``Low Carbon, Green Growth'' era; and to redraw administrative districts around the country.
DP spokesman Rep. Choi Jae-sung said, ``President Lee and Chung agreed to deal with the global financial instability and resuscitate the sagging local economy.''
``They shared opinions on a wide-range of issues, but remained philosophically split on some matters, such as the government's plan to cut property taxes for the wealthy,'' Choi told reporters.
The government plans to raise the threshold for the comprehensive tax to 900 million won from the current 600 million won and to halve the tax rate to 0.5-1 percent. Opposition parties say the readjustment will benefit more than 200,000 households, mostly in the country's most affluent districts in southern Seoul.
Lee and Chung also agreed to regularize their meetings, strengthen the partnership between the ruling and opposition parties, and to cooperate in dealing with the North Korean nuclear program and other diplomatic challenges.
``Through their two-hour meeting, which continued in a very pleasant atmosphere, President Lee and Chung discussed various issues and shared key policy goals for the country's future,'' presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said.
``Their talks were very productive. It was a good opportunity for the leaders to promote mutual understanding.''
The agreement is expected to pave the way for the Lee administration to prepare an economic package to deal with global financial instability and help troubled local companies. Analysts also hoped the ruling Grand National Party and the DP would start talks to resolve thorny issues, such as the government's tax cut plan.
Lee also said his government will positively consider the DP's proposal to send food and fertilizer aid to North Korea to make a breakthrough in the stalled inter-Korean relations.
``Lee and I had productive discussions, but we have different thoughts on some issues,'' Chung told reporters after the meeting. ``Lee explained the ruling camp's position on the tax reform plan and I also tried to convince him that reducing property taxes is not helpful in preventing speculation and stabilizing the real estate market.''