The President on his state visit to L''Aquila, Italy on Thursday, July 9 (local time) proposed forming a working group for the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) at the extended G-8 Summit meeting. U.S. President Barack Obama, also the chairman of the Forum, accepted the proposal on the spot. It was the second session of the extended G8 Summit.

“Simply having an agreement on mere principles between the developing and developed countries is not enough to overcome the climate change .We need a more in-depth discussion on the details,” President Lee said at the time. “I propose that MEF participant nations set up a working group to play that role.”

U.S. President Obama accepted this proposal, adding that it was a good idea before wrapping up the meeting according to Kim Eun-hye, a vice-spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae.

Obama also reportedly called on leaders to consider a prior meeting made up of finance ministers only, just ahead of the G20 summit, scheduled for this coming September. The finance ministers from 20 nations could delve deeper into the matters of financial assistance to developing nations. He also added that it is necessary for working-level officials to make vibrant exchanges at UN-sponsored special climate change summit and Pittsburgh G20 Summit.

Obama reiterated this point also at the joint press conference that was held right after the talks, reported Cheong Wa Dae.

The President, pointing out the significance of Korea being selected as the leading nation in smart grid technology, one of the seven major revolutionary technologies acknowledged at the forum, said that Korea will actively lead development in smart grids. “We will propose specific measures for international cooperation by this coming November,” he pledged.