MANILA, Philippines - South Korea is preparing for an official visit of President Lee Myung-bak to Manila within the year upon the invitation of President Aquino, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
Lee also conveyed his invitation to Aquino for an official visit to Seoul at a mutually convenient time when Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo called on Lee and held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan on the second day of his three-day official visit to Seoul.
During his call on Lee, Romulo conveyed the felicitations and best wishes of Aquino, together with the latter’s desire to work closely with Lee for the further advancement of Philippines-South Korea ties and cooperation.
For his part, Lee welcomed the active partnership between the two countries, and thanked the Philippines for its role in defending South Korea during the Korean War in 1950 to 1953, as well as its unwavering support for peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.
Romulo and his South Korean counterpart held a formal bilateral meeting at the latter’s official residence in Seoul, accompanied by their respective delegations.
The Philippine and South Korean officials discussed a broad range of substantive items, including the convening of regular bilateral Policy Consultations between the DFA and the Korean Foreign Ministry, the enhancement of bilateral trade and greater access for Philippine goods into the Korean market, boosting Korean foreign direct investments into the Philippines amid soaring investor confidence and the Aquino administration’s pledge of good governance, and harnessing development cooperation to assist the Philippines in realizing its development priorities and its attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.
Both sides also touched on specific cooperation relating to the development of energy resources, including renewable energy, as well as Korean participation in the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
During the meetings, the Philippine and South Korean officials reaffirmed the vibrant and mutually beneficial friendship between the two countries for the past 62 years.
The meetings allowed both governments to chart the direction of their cooperation not only for 2011, but also for the coming years.
Romulo arrived in Seoul on Sunday and visited the new Philippine chancery and met with both embassy and Filipino-community officers.
South Korea is among the Philippines’ top trade partners, investors and source of foreign tourists.