President Kim holds talks with Singaporean leader

President Kim Dae-Jung met Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in Istana Palace Sunday morning and the two leaders agreed to hold regular bilateral ministerial talks on means to improve cooperation between their countries. They agreed that the annual talks of cabinet members should focus on methods of strengthening economic cooperation, the conclusion of a free trade agreement and measures for joint efforts in the field of information technology. The first meeting is set to take place in Singapore next year.

The two leaders renewed their commitment to closer ties for the promotion of an East Asian economic cooperative arrangement as was agreed upon during the summit of ASEAN Plus Three (Korea, Japan and China) leaders.

Earlier on Saturday, President Kim attended a summit between South Korea and ASEAN countries and promised to host 1,000 trainees for information technology (IT) education in Korea. He also appealed to ASEAN members to support the participation of Korean businesses in the efforts to boost infrastructure in the region, including the Mekong Delta development and the construction of expressways in Indonesia.

President Kim winds up his state visit in Singapore to leave for a state visit to Indonesia on Monday.

Choi Young-Mook ymook@donga.com