S. Korea to send delegation to Latin America for energy diplomacy

(ATTN: CORRECTS "Central" to "Latin" in slug, headline, lead)
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to send a delegation of government
and business officials to Latin America later this week as part of efforts to
strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with the resource-rich region, officials
said Thursday.
The foreign ministry said the team, which will include some 20 ranking government
officials as well as construction and energy company executives, will make a
two-week tour to four countries -- Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Mexico --
starting Sunday.
The tour is part of Seoul's efforts to beef up diplomatic efforts in the energy
and resource fields and climate change, ministry officials said.
Since his inauguration last year, President Lee Myung-bak has emphasized that the
strengthening of energy diplomacy is the only option for the South Korean economy
that is heavily dependent on oil imports and trade.
Corporate delegates are from state-run energy firms such as the Korea National
Oil Corp., as well as private ones including GS Engineering & Construction Co.
and POSCO Engineering & Construction Co.
The South Korean delegation plans to pay visits to top government officials and
leading energy and development companies and hold rounds of presentations to lay
the groundwork for potential business tie-ups in the future, the ministry said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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