South Korea's prime minister Saturday left for Beijing to attend the Paralympic Games, a global sporting event for disabled athletes, where he will also meet with his Chinese counterpart to discuss improved ties between the two countries, officials here said.
This year's Paralympics, running from Saturday through Sept. 17, will be joined by more than 4,000 disabled athletes from some 140 countries.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo will offer his encouragement to the South Korean delegation, consisting of 79 athletes competing in 13 events, wishing them "all the best," the premier's office said.
"Han will be the first South Korean prime minister to attend the global event, and we expect his visit to play a big role in improving the environment for disabled athletes in the future," Han's aide was quoted as saying by Yonhap News.
After attending the welcoming luncheon hosted by Chinese President Hu Jintao, Han will meet with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao to discuss ways of boosting cooperation between the two countries.
South Korea's Paralympics team aims for a 14th place finish, with 13 gold, six silver and seven bronze medals. It placed 16th at the 2004 Athens Paralympics with 11 gold medals.
The Paralympics, a multi-sport event for athletes with physical, mental and sensorial disabilities, are held every four years after the Olympic Games.