Lee pledges active support for Ethiopia's economic development

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with summit results; CHANGES headline)
By Chang Jae-soon
ADDIS ABABA, July 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak agreed Friday to provide active support for Ethiopia's economic development, pledging to significantly boost relations with the African nation that helped save the South from North Korea's invasion 60 years ago.
In summit talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Lee expressed gratitude for Ethiopia's participation in the 1950-53 Korean War, and said South Korea wants to develop ties with Ethiopia beyond the traditional friendship into those of "development cooperation partners."
Zenawi expressed a strong commitment to strengthen economic cooperation with South Korea and to learn from the country's experience of rebuilding the nation from the war's ashes to one of the world's largest economies, a statement from the presidential office said.
The two leaders agreed to work closely together for the success of Ethiopia's five-year economic development scheme, known as the "Growth and Transformation Plan," and actively share the South's experience of developing its economy and agricultural sectors, the statement said.
They also agreed to share Seoul's "green growth" vision for environment-friendly growth.
Other agreed points include promoting trade and investment as well as increasing cooperation in resources and technology to help Ethiopia grow its economy in a sustainable manner, the statement said.
Lee appreciated Ethiopia's roles in improving regional peace and stability, while Zenawi expressed support for Seoul's efforts to stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the statement said.
The sides signed a grant provision agreement and other economic cooperation accords.
Lee arrived in Addis Ababa earlier Friday for a three-day visit. Ethiopia is the final leg of Lee's three-nation African tour that took him to South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lee is the first South Korean president to visit Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is one of 16 nations that sent combat troops as part of U.N. forces to help South Korea repel invading North Korean troops during the 1950-53 Korean War. A total of 3,520 Ethiopian troops were dispatched, with 121 killed and 535 injured.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Ethiopia's participation in the war.
Lee plans to lay a wreath at the Korean War Memorial and meet with Korean War veterans on Saturday. Lee also plans to visit two villages on Saturday and Sunday to do volunteer work in a symbolic gesture of repaying Ethiopia.


jschang@yna.co.kr