President Lee Myung-bak on a visit to Europe for the expanded G-8 summit met with Polish President Lech Kaczynski in Warsaw on Wednesday July 8 (local time). The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on energy and defense.
The two presidents held one-on-one summit talks first, followed by an expanded summit meeting, and a joint press conference.
President Lee Myung-bak holds summit talks with Polish President Lech Kaczynski
at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8 (Poland time)
The President called for his Polish counterpart to help Korean companies take part in Poland's construction of anLNG terminal, which is to be completed by 2013, and also the construction of one or two atomic power plants, by 2020. Polish President Lech Kaczynski said he would favorably consider buying Korean airplanes for the Polish project of purchasing jet trainers.President Lee also asked for Poland's support for the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Also, marking the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Poland the two presidents agreed to further solidify the future-oriented partnership declared back in 2004 by boosting cooperation in all sectors of the bilateral relations.
In the afternoon President Lee and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok attended a luncheon hosted by President Kaczynski and his wife and presented three gifts: a golden turtle ship, a tortoise-shell design silver necklace and a digital photo album that contains a picture of President Kaczynski and his wife when they last visited Korea in December 2008.
According to Cheongwadae, the golden turtle ship has two meanings: one calls for Korea and Poland to sail together into a golden future, and the other represents pride of both nations in having fended off foreign invaders throughout their long histories.
The President then visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw to offer flowers and held talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk over bilateral cooperation in the energy and defense sectors between the two countries.
Wrapping up his two-day visit to Poland, the President then moved to Italy. He is first scheduled to meet with Pope Benedict XVI and then attend the expanded Group of 8 Summit meeting on July 9-10.
