President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-bak visited three southern Pacific countries, including New Zealand (March 3-4), Australia (March 4-6) and Indonesia (March 6-8). Results of the summit talks are as follows:

The ROK-New Zealand Summit

President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand held a summit on March 3. The two leaders engaged in an in depth discussion on various matters, including bilateral relations, North Korean issues, regional collaboration and cooperation in the international arena.

The two leaders noted that bilateral relations have made continued progress in various sectors such as politics, economy, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges on the basis of shared values since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1962. On top of this, they reached an agreement to further strengthen the comprehensive cooperative ties through frequent summits. They issued the Republic of Korea-New Zealand Joint Statement that sums up ways to carry out future collaboration.

The two leaders agreed that countries around the globe have to swiftly join forces in dealing with the current global financial and economic crises while refraining from taking protectionist measures. In this context, they agreed to work together through international organizations such as the WTO. In addition, noting that the two countries have complementary economic structures, they agreed to further expand bilateral trade and investment. To this end, the two leaders agreed to start negotiations for the conclusion of a Korea-New Zealand FTA.

Explaining his impressions on visiting the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, President Lee expressed a hope to bolter ties with the country, which has so far made remarkable achievements in agricultural reform. The two leaders agreed to promote collaboration in overall agricultural sectors, including people-to-people exchanges.
President Lee asked for the cooperation of the Wellington Government in Korean businesses’ bid to participate in various projects in New Zealand. Impending projects in the South Pacific country include construction of an ultra fast broadband infrastructure and an integrated transportation card system for Auckland’s trains and other means of mass transit as well as forestation to produce bioenergy. Prime Minister Key said that he would look into the issue in a positive light. The two leaders also agreed to expand collaboration in the field of joint film production in accordance with the Agreement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand concerning the Co-production of Films signed last year.

The President and Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the pace with which Seoul and Wellington have worked together in the area of scientific cooperation as stipulated in the 1997 Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. They decided to bolster cooperation in the area of joint research for geothermal resources and gas hydrate in particular. They also decided to encourage joint research in the area of commercial robots for the care of senior citizens and other purposes in tandem with cooperation in the field of health care utilizing cutting-edge IT.

The two leaders gave a high evaluation to the Arrangement on Education Cooperation between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand Education Ministries that was concluded this time. President Lee asked for special attention to Korean students in New Zealand as well as other Korean residents in the country. He also said that the Working Holiday Schemes need to be expanded on a sustained basis in the interest of promoting more people-to-people exchanges. The Prime Minister concurred with the President in that regard.

The Korean President explained about the Republic of Korea’s North Korea Policy of Mutual Benefits and Common Prosperity. To this end, he stressed that denuclearization by Pyongyang should be carried out in such a way that the process can be verified at each stage. Prime Minister Key reaffirmed Wellington’s support for the Six?Party Talks. He pledged his proactive effort for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. They saw eye to eye on the need to solidify endeavors for stability in the South Pacific, while working for regional development.

The ROK-Australia Summit

After President Lee Myung-bak's visit to New Zealand, he flew to Australia. President Lee held a summit with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia in Canberra, on March 5. During the meeting, the two leaders had in-depth discussions concerning bilateral relations, the political situation in the region and ways to work together in the international arena.

President Lee expressed condolences over the casualties and damage to property incurred by the recent wildfires in southeastern Australia and wished for an early recovery from the disaster. In response, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the President’s concern. He went on to note that the encouragement and assistance from other countries, including Korea, was of great help in the recovery efforts.

The two leaders gave a high evaluation to bilateral relations saying that the two countries have fostered a close relationship on the strength of the shared values of democracy and market economy. In addition, they agreed to take the President’s visit as an opportunity to further upgrade substantive collaboration in various sectors, including politics, security, economy, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Among other things, the two leaders agreed to initiate negotiations for the conclusion of a Korea-Australia FTA. In this regard, they said that the FTA would greatly contribute to the promotion of trade and other economic exchanges between the two countries in light of complementary economic structures.

On top of this, President Lee asked for the Prime Minister’s support for Korean businesses, which want to participate in the country’s projects to build new LNG plants and to introduce a new high-speed railway service. The two leaders reached an agreement to further expand collaboration in the area of resources and energy.

The two leaders agreed to expand the horizon of the bilateral cooperation that has been centered on the economy and trade into security. To this end, they adopted the Joint Statement on Enhanced Global and Security Cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Australia. Regarding the Joint Statement, they noted that an institutional framework had been laid for the comprehensive collaboration in dealing with security and other global issues.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the two leaders decided to designate the year 2011 as the Korea-Australia Friendship Year. Together with this move, they agreed to redouble endeavors to help Korean studies flourish in Australia as well as to promote cultural, academic and people-to-people exchanges. In addition, the two leaders agreed to hold a government civilian joint forum, dubbed Track 1.5, to promote the participation of government officials and civilian opinion leaders in policy development and academic exchanges.

The two leaders decided to step up collaboration in carbon reduction and joint research in response to climate change as well as in green growth strategies. President Lee endorsed the initiative of the Australian Government in setting up the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) as a viable countermeasure to global climate change, and pledged to work together with the Prime Minister through the GCCSI.

In connection with the current international economic crisis, the President and the Prime Minister delved into possible countermeasures that could be taken against protectionist policies.

Discussing the planned expansion of the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) as agreed on at the first G-20 financial summit in Washington last November, President Lee asked for the Australian Government’s support for Korea’s bid to become a member nation of the FSF. Prime Minister Rudd agreed to support Korea in this regard.

The President expounded on his Administration’s North Korea policies and recent inter-Korea developments. The Prime Minister expressed his Government’s unchanging support for the Six?Party Talks in Beijing, which have been discussing for some years ways to denuclearize Pyongyang and bring about peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination at international organizations, including the UN, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting (APEC), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The summit laid an important milestone in establishing future-oriented relations between Seoul and Canberra as well as affirming their critical roles as major actors in the endeavor to bring about prosperity and general progress in Asia and the Pacific.

The ROK-Indonesia Summit

President Lee Myung-bak visited Indonesia from March 6 to 8. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia greeted President Lee at a summit by saying, “The visit this time will serve as a historic opportunity for us. Let’s work together not only in the regional, but also the international arena in the future.”

Concerning how to handle toxic financial assets, the Indonesian President suggested that Korea’s experience be complied in detail for a joint proposal at the forthcoming meeting in London.

President Yudhoyono proposed to work together in the fight against corruption. He wanted to learn from the experiences of the anti-corruption system of Korea, including the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and to collaborate in related areas. President Yudhoyono is well known for his integrity and a series of reforms. When it comes to collaboration in the fight against terrorism, he also gave positive responses.

As of now, about 20,000 Indonesian workers in Korea are subject to the employment permit system under which migrant workers should leave the country in case they are unemployed for two months. Regarding this matter, President Lee said, “Indonesian workers have a reputation of being diligent and highly capable. The Korean Government will positively review how to improve the system.”

Regarding cooperation on communications devices and services, President Lee said that since Indonesia is such a large country with many islands, it should reap great advantage by utilizing Korea’s cutting-edge WiBro and DMB technologies among other things. They agreed that each country would do well to form a government-private sector task force concerning this matter and arrange bilateral meetings.

President Yudhoyono proposed collaboration in the development of new and alternative energy resources. In response, President Lee welcomed the proposal. He said countries in the region might well work together on the issue in tandem with his own proposal for an East Asian Partnership on Climate Change that he discussed when laying out the New Asia Initiative during his tour.

The two leaders also stressed the need to implement the Chiangmai Initiative expeditiously as it has failed to reap tangible results so far. To this end, they concurred on the need to launch a viable working committee as soon as possible.