Arriving in São Paulo, Brazil yesterday after attending the G-20 Global Financial Summit held in Washington D.C., President Lee started a tour to South America.

Included on the Presidential itinerary in Brazil are a luncheon meeting with Korean and Brazilian business leaders, a reception with Korean residents in the country, a dinner hosted by the governor of the state of São Paulo, a summit with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on November 19 and meetings with the presidents of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil.

Afterwards, President Lee is scheduled to make a state visit to the Republic of Peru. Following the summit with Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez, the President will attend the 16th APEC Economic Leaders'' Meeting to be held in Lima from November 22-23.

President Lee will embark on a series of diplomatic activities by holding bilateral summits with leaders of APEC countries on the sidelines of the meeting. After attending the APEC meeting, President Lee will fly to Los Angeles to encourage Korean residents there. Before returning to Korea on the morning of November 26, President Lee is scheduled to hold a meeting with Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger and to have a luncheon meeting with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.