The President held another series of talks with leaders of ASEAN member countries on Monday (June 1) and discussed ways to boost cooperation at the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit.

Korea-Laos summit

The President and Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of the Lao People''s Democratic Republic, shake hands prior to the summit talks on June 1 at the International Convention Center on Jejudo (island).

President Lee held summit talks with Prime Minister of the Lao People''s Democratic Republic Bouasone Bouphavanh at a hotel on Jeju-do (Jeju Island) on June 1 and discussed ways to improve bilateral relations. At the summit, President Lee and his Laotian counterpart agreed that the latter''s visit last year created an opportunity to further strengthen ties. The two leaders agreed to actively support preparations for the celebration of the 15 anniversary of the resumption of the bilateral diplomatic relationship in October 2010.
President Lee asked Prime Minister Bouphavanh to support Korean firms entering Laos and the latter vowed to offer active support in response to Lee''s request.

Lee welcomed the conclusion of an agreement on grant aid between Korea and Laos. The Laotian leader expressed his thanks as Lee expressed the Korean government''s willingness to provide official development assistance (ODA) to share Korea''s experience of development with other countries.

The two leaders agreed that North Korea''s recent nuclear test goes against international nuclear non-proliferation sentiment and hampers the pursuit of peace and stability in both East Asia and the world. They agreed to make diplomatic efforts to make Pyongyang faithfully implement the UN Security Council resolution and resume the six-party talks.

* Korea-Indonesia summit

The President and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, shake hands prior to the summit talks on June 1 at the International Convention Center on Jejudo (island).

President Lee asked the Indonesian government''s support for Korean firms entering Indonesia''s IT, power plant construction, forest or defense industries, and the Indonesian leader vowed to provide active support to improve the country''s business environment.

President Lee Myung-bak (left) and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, walk around the beach on Jejudo (island) on June 1.

The two leaders welcomed the multilateralization of the Chiang Mai Initiative, a financial cooperative project involving China, Korea and Japan, and the need to establish a regional credit guarantee and investment organization to develop Asian bond market.

After the Korea-Indonesia summit, President Lee suggested to the Indonesian leader that the two countries jointly promote Korea''s Jeju-do and Indonesia''s Bali as world-famous tourism destinations.

At a luncheon with his President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President Lee took the Indonesian leader to the coast of the island and introduced Jeju-do as a wonderful tourism attraction with beautiful warm weather, which does not have much snow in winter.

* Korea-Brunei summit

The Presdient with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, prior to the summit talks on June 1 at the International Convention Center on Jejudo (island).

At the same venue as the Korea-Indonesia summit, President Lee held a summit with Brunei''s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and agreed to widen the range of bilateral cooperation to sectors with greater growth potential like IT and shipbuilding, from the current sectors of energy and resources.

The two leaders also agreed to actively extend youth exchanges, a scholarship invitation program and culture exchange projects.

* Welcoming dinner

Later Monday, President Lee and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok hosted a welcoming dinner attended by the ten ASEAN leaders.

In his dinner speech President Lee said that Korea and ASEAN will become partners for co-prosperity with deep friendship and warm neighborly feelings, asserting the dynamic force and potential of the two.

The President and First Lady with ASEAN leaders at a welcoming dinner on June 1

Mentioning the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Lee said both Korea and ASEAN countries have been successful in overcoming the recent global economic crisis thanks to their previous experience. He added that Korea and ASEAN will achieve greater economic development by successfully responding to climate change and developing new growth engine industries.

President Lee also stressed that Korea and ASEAN will play a greater role in the global economy.

This dinner was attended by 350 guests, including the leaders of the ten ASEAN countries, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry Sohn Kyung-shik and Kim Tae Hwan, Governor of Jeju Special Self-governing Province.