Lee to visit Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

By Park Si-soo

President Lee Myung-bak will visit Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan from Aug. 21 to 26 to bolster economic and other ties with those countries, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday.

Lee will have a summit with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj in Ulan Bator during the state visit to the nation. In the meeting the two heads of state will discuss ways to promote exchange in trade, natural resources and manpower, Cheong Wa Dae said in a release.

In the second leg of his trip to the Central Asian nations, Lee will pay a state visit to Uzbekistan on Aug. 23 and 24 at the invitation of Uzbek President Islam Abduganievich Karimov.

In a summit with his Uzbek counterpart, Lee will discuss ways to boost the nations’ strategic partnership in energy and natural resources, among other topics.

The former Eastern Bloc nation will seek Korea’s help in establishing better financial and information technology services. The two countries will also sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to increase cooperation in the fields of health care, medicine and textiles.

In his official visit to Kazakhstan, Lee will meet with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev to seek a mutually beneficial trade partnership.

He will attend a business forum as well as the opening ceremony for a center for technological cooperation between the two countries.

First lady Kim Yoon-ok will accompany the President on his tour.