Korea Backs Russia’s WTO Membership
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
South Korea and Russia agreed Monday to upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership to accelerate two-way cooperation on North Korea's nuclear program and the development of natural resources and aerospace technologies.
President Lee Myung-bak, who is on a three-day visit to Russia, and President Dmitry Medvedev adopted a joint statement calling for closer diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries following their summit in Moscow.
``Seoul and Moscow agreed to strengthen exchanges between their governments, legislatures and public and private sectors to address issues of mutual interest and security concerns on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia," the statement said.
Under the agreement, the two countries will set up strategic talks between their vice foreign ministers. They will also launch joint projects to develop natural resources in Russia and nuclear and aerospace technologies.
Seoul and Moscow also shared the goals of resolving the North Korean nuclear program and other regional security matters through the framework of multilateral negotiations.
``Korea and Russia will strengthen cooperation to seek a peaceful resolution of regional security problems. To achieve the goal, we will participate in the Asian Regional Forum, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and other international bodies more actively,'' the statement said.
Lee arrived in Moscow Sunday, accompanied by 33 business leaders and ministers. Ministries from both nations signed 13 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to promote strategic relations in the fields of energy, diplomacy and industrial technologies, Cheong Wa Dae officials said.
``An upgrade in South Korea-Russia relations will be crucial for closer bilateral cooperation between our economies, North Korea policy and other areas,'' Lee told reporters.
According to the joint statement, Korea will back Russia's efforts to join the World Trade Organization and cooperate for Russia's successful hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics and the APEC forum in 2012. The two countries will also prepare joint programs to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2010. Seoul and Moscow have decided to designate 2010 as the year of Russia and South Korea.
The agreement will pave the way for South Korean firms to participate in Russia's projects to build infrastructure and develop oil and gas.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in energy-related research and in the development of oil and uranium. Russia is the world's second-largest producer of oil, and has the largest output of natural gas. It ranks fourth in uranium production and is the fifth-largest supplier of coal and iron ore.
On the sidelines of the summit, a South Korean consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corp. and Korea Resources Corp. signed an MOU with Atomredmetzoloto Uranium Holdings to jointly mine the material used to fuel nuclear reactors.
In addition, the state-run Korea National Oil Corp signed a pact with Russia's autonomous Republic of Kalmykia to jointly look for oil in the Caspian Sea. The two governments also agreed to push for the envisioned rail link between the two countries through North Korea for its eventual connection with Europe.
Following the summit, Lee also met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Russian business leaders and journalists.
``Lee thanked Putin for his efforts to foster stronger Seoul-Moscow ties. Putin expressed hope that South Korea will increase its participation in Russia's economic projects,'' a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said.
The South Korean President will fly to Saint Petersburg today to receive an honorary doctorate from Saint Petersburg State University, the alma mater of both Medvedev and Putin, and give a lecture on Seoul-Moscow relations to students. He will meet briefly with Mayor Valentina Matvienko before leaving for Seoul.