South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will visit Germany, Denmark and France from May 8-14 to seek future-oriented cooperative relations with the European countries, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday.

   On the first leg of his weeklong trip, Lee will hold respective summit talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Christian Wulff in Berlin on May 9 for discussions on expanding the two countries' relations and cooperation in trade, investment, green growth and renewable energy, Cheong Wa Dae said in a release.

   In addition, regional issues in both Europe and Asia as well as global issues, like the G-20 summit, climate change and development aid, will be discussed, the office said, noting Lee will also meet with German parliament and business leaders.

   In Denmark, Lee will have dinner with Queen Margrethe II on May 11 before holding summit talks with Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen the following day to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in international diplomacy, Cheong Wa Dae said.

   On May 12, Lee will hold summit talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris to exchanges views on measures to boost the two countries' trade, investment and economic cooperation, the office said.

   "During his upcoming trip, President Lee will seek to establish future-oriented cooperative relationships with major countries of the European Union in the fields of green growth and new energy sources," said a Cheong Wa Dae official.

   "The president will also strengthen substantive cooperation with European countries ahead of the enforcement of the Korea-EU free trade agreement scheduled for July 1 this year."

Source: Yonhap News (May 1, 2011)