President Lee Myung-bak will visit three southern Pacific countries in early March and fortify green energy ties with them, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday (Feb. 18).

The President, who made state visits to the United States, Japan, China and Russia in his first year in office, will this time visit New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, in efforts to boost cooperation in green energy development with allies in the Pacific. Lee will also use the opportunity to share his ideas with the leaders to combat the worst-ever world economic crisis and to strengthen economic ties with them.

In his visit to New Zealand on Mar. 3-4, President Lee will meet with the Governor-General Anand Satyanand and have a summit with the Prime Minister John Key. The summit agenda items include the start of Korea-New Zealand FTA negotiations, recyclable and bio energies cooperation, and green industry development.

The two leaders will also talk about Korean companies'' participation in New Zealand''s broadband network building.

During his visit to Australia (Mar. 4-6), Lee will meet Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The bilateral summit between the two countries'' leaders will deal with FTA talks, human resource and cultural exchanges, and cooperation in carbon emission reduction and climate change. President Lee also plans to encourage the expansion of Korean Studies in Australia, and visit solar and recyclable energy development institutes in the country.

From Mar. 6 to 8, President Lee visits Indonesia. Lee and his counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono are said to seek cooperation in oil field and forest development. They will also discuss regional cooperation issues, including reinforcement of Korea-ASEAN ties.

Lee''s state visit to the three countries is expected to be a great opportunity for Korea to strengthen ties with the East Asian and south Pacific region, the presidential office said. Through the week-long visit, President Lee will also have preliminary talks with Australian and Indonesian leaders for the April G20 meeting to be held in London, said the office.

Cheong Wa Dae also said that New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia are three of Korea''s important resource development partners, and that the visit to the countries will greatly contribute to the Korean government''s efforts to create new growth engines and revive the domestic economy.

The President will return home on Mar. 8.