Presidential couple and New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir (right)President Lee started his first day in Australia (Mar. 4) with a tight schedule, ahead of the bilateral summit scheduled the next day.

After the "Australia-Korea Green Business Forum" at a Sydney hotel, the President met with Nicholas Moore, head of investment and financial services giant Macquarie Group, and shared thoughts on mutual investment plans between the two countries.

President Lee asked for the chairman to share his superior expertise and knowledge on finance with Korean investment banks.

Lee also said that Macquarie''s recent decision to make a large investment in Korea was good and timely in view of the fact that a future bilateral FTA deal, which would hopefully be concluded early, would greatly expand the two countries'' exchanges and cooperation.

"Seen from the perspective of a global investment bank, Korea''s economic prospects were considered to be outstanding. That''s why we made the decision to invest," Moore said in response. Moore added that he thinks Korea will overcome the economic crisis soon and become an economic leader in the future.

In the afternoon, Lee took a tour of an energy institute run by New South Wales University, as part of his efforts to boost collaboration in green industry and renewable energy resources development between Korea and Australia.

"Despite the economic difficulties, Korea plans to invest more into R&D of green-technology and high-technology. Technology cooperation between Korea and Australia is crucial," Lee said to the staff of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. He also emphasized industrial development to counter climate change and other environmental threats.

Australia''s world-best solar cell technology, combined with Korea''s relative expertise in the area, would put quality products on the global market, presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said regarding the presidential visit to the institute.

Later in the day, President Lee met with New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir, leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull, and had a meeting with Korean people living in Australia. Then he attended a dinner hosted by the Premier of New South Wales.

Lee was set to travel to Canberra for a Thursday (Mar. 5) summit with Australia''s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.