Lee, Rudd call for early conclusion of FTA talks, better ties

Lee, Rudd call for early conclusion of FTA talks, better ties
By Byun Duk-kun
L'AQUILA, Italy, July 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pledged joint efforts in a summit here
Friday to quickly conclude negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA).

The renewed call came four months after the leaders announced the official start
of negotiations for a Korea-Australia FTA during Lee's visit to Canberra.
"The heads of state noted the negotiations for the Korea-Australia FTA were going
smoothly and agreed to work closely together to reach an agreement at an early
date," South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.
The FTA, if signed, will be Seoul's largest since its 2007 deal with Washington.
The Korea-U.S. FTA has yet to be ratified by the countries' legislatures.
Both Lee and Rudd traveled to this central Italian city this week for the
expanded G-8 summit.
The leaders agreed to strengthen their countries' bilateral cooperation in
dealing with various international issues, such as the global economic crisis and
the North Korean nuclear program.
"Expressing grave concerns over North Korea's recent provocations seen in its
long-range rocket launch and a nuclear test, the two leaders agreed to continue
their cooperation in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue," the press release
said.
Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear detonation on May 25 and fired a barrage
of missiles last week despite a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning its
nuclear and missile tests.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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