ID :
22969
Mon, 10/06/2008 - 21:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22969
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Lee says KORUS FTA will help defuse financial crisis
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak asked the new U.S. envoy on Monday for added efforts on swift legislative approval of the long-overdue Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, saying it would help calm U.S. financial turmoil and promote economic stability in Northeast Asia.
"Korea-U.S. FTA is mutually beneficial. The deal will help the U.S. overcome its
financial crisis and stabilize the economy of Northeast Asia," Lee was quoted by
his spokesperson as saying after receiving credentials from new U.S. ambassador
to Korea, Kathleen Stephens.
Lee asked the new envoy to work harder to gain speedier parliamentary
ratification of the bilateral FTA in both countries.
Seoul and Washington concluded their free trade deal in June last year but have
yet to obtain parliamentary approval. Lee and U.S. President George W. Bush have
agreed to have their respective legislative bodies ratify the FTA deal by the end
of this year, but the outlook remains murky.
Stephens, the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Korea, arrived in Seoul
on Sept. 23 to take up her post. She taught English in Korea as a Peace Corps
volunteer in the 1970s and later served as a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in
Seoul and the consulate in Busan.
President Lee and Stephens also exchanged views on strengthening of their
countries' bilateral alliance, the recent upgrade of South Korea's status in the
purchase of U.S. defense systems, the pending U.S. visa waiver for South Korean
visitors and a U.S. job training program for South Korean college students,
according to deputy presidential spokesperson Kim Eun-hye.
The president expressed confidence in the new U.S. envoy, saying, "The Korean
people deeply welcome Ambassador Stephens. We have a lot of expectations of you,
because you understand Korean sentiment well."
In response, Stephens said she has already sensed Korean people's wish to improve
relations with the U.S. and vowed to further solidify the bilateral alliance,
according to spokesperson Kim.
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak asked the new U.S. envoy on Monday for added efforts on swift legislative approval of the long-overdue Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, saying it would help calm U.S. financial turmoil and promote economic stability in Northeast Asia.
"Korea-U.S. FTA is mutually beneficial. The deal will help the U.S. overcome its
financial crisis and stabilize the economy of Northeast Asia," Lee was quoted by
his spokesperson as saying after receiving credentials from new U.S. ambassador
to Korea, Kathleen Stephens.
Lee asked the new envoy to work harder to gain speedier parliamentary
ratification of the bilateral FTA in both countries.
Seoul and Washington concluded their free trade deal in June last year but have
yet to obtain parliamentary approval. Lee and U.S. President George W. Bush have
agreed to have their respective legislative bodies ratify the FTA deal by the end
of this year, but the outlook remains murky.
Stephens, the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Korea, arrived in Seoul
on Sept. 23 to take up her post. She taught English in Korea as a Peace Corps
volunteer in the 1970s and later served as a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in
Seoul and the consulate in Busan.
President Lee and Stephens also exchanged views on strengthening of their
countries' bilateral alliance, the recent upgrade of South Korea's status in the
purchase of U.S. defense systems, the pending U.S. visa waiver for South Korean
visitors and a U.S. job training program for South Korean college students,
according to deputy presidential spokesperson Kim Eun-hye.
The president expressed confidence in the new U.S. envoy, saying, "The Korean
people deeply welcome Ambassador Stephens. We have a lot of expectations of you,
because you understand Korean sentiment well."
In response, Stephens said she has already sensed Korean people's wish to improve
relations with the U.S. and vowed to further solidify the bilateral alliance,
according to spokesperson Kim.
