At the extended G-8 summit forum held in L''Aquila, Italy, The President held a series of summit talks with leaders who attended the gathering and discussed ways to boost economic cooperation and international support in resolving North Korean issues.

The President met Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday, July 10 (Italy time) in L''Aquila, where the two leaders agreed that the international community should open the dialogue channel and show a united response to North Korea in order to denuclearize Pyongyang.

The President  and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in L''Aquila, Italy, on July 10 (Italy time)

The two leaders also agreed that they cannot accept North Korea''s possession of nuclear weapons.

They also agreed to closely cooperate in faithfully fulfilling the UN Security Council resolution 1874 and expand bilateral cooperation in energy, resources and low carbon, green growth sectors.

The President held a summit with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday and expressed deep concern about North Korea''s recent missile tests and nuclear provocations. The two leaders agreed to closely cooperate in fulfilling the UN Security Council resolution in order to resolve North Korean nuclear issues.

Lee and Rudd also pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of bio energy, carbon capturing and storage technology and clean coal technology.

President Lee also met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on the same day and shared his desire to end the free trade negotiation for the Korea-EU free trade agreement (FTA).

If the Korea-EU FTA is concluded, Italian medicinal supplies, machinery and clothing goods will be more competitive in

Korea, President Lee was quoted as saying, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye.
 

The President  also told his Italian counterpart that small-sized Italian cars will not be hurt in the Korean auto market since Korean carmakers focus on producing medium-sized sedans.

Italian leader said he also agrees with President Lee''s philosophy of free trade in principle, expressing his support for the need to conclude the Korea-EU FTA for the sake of the economies of both countries.

Meanwhile, Berlusconi said he has a special friendship with and trust in The President Lee as former CEO of a leading Korean company, mentioning Lee''s autobiography "There Is No Such Thing as a Myth," scheduled to be published this coming autumn in Italy.