Lee discusses economic cooperation with Spain's foreign minister

(LEAD) SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak met with Spain's top diplomat on Wednesday and discussed economic cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries, the presidential office said.
Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez arrived earlier in the day for a two-day visit. She is scheduled to meet with her South Korean counterpart, Kim Sung-hwan, on Thursday for talks on boosting cooperation in renewable energy, aerospace, defense and cultural exchanges.
Lee told Jimenez that he expects trade and investment between the two countries to expand, thanks to a free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the European Union (EU) that went into force on July 1, presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha said.
Jimenez said in response that Korean electronics products are popular in Spain, and she uses a Korean-made mobile phone. She also said Spain hopes for cooperation with South Korea in the areas of renewable energy and plant industry, according to the spokesman.
She also offered congratulations on PyeongChang's winning of the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, and said Spain always supports South Korea with regard to Korean Peninsula issues, the spokesman said.
Lee expressed thanks for Spain's support of PyeongChang, Park said.
Jimenez quoted Spain's King Juan Carlos as saying that he thinks of South Korea as a brother nation and he regrets that his planned trip to South Korea has been put off for health reasons, according to the spokesman.
Lee said he expects the king to visit South Korea once his health improves.
Jimenez said South Korea was her first destination in Asia since taking office, which, she said, shows Spain's high interest in the country.