Korea, Honduras agree to forge closer ties

President Lee Myung-bak and Honduran President Porfirio Lobo on Monday discussed how to extend bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure development during their summit talks in Seoul.

The two leaders also agreed to seek ways to share South Korea’s experience in economic development and better protect South Korean citizens in Honduras, Lee’s office, Cheong Wa Dae, said.

Lobo asked for active participation by South Korean businesses in the Honduran public sectors of education, healthcare and infrastructure development, especially for the construction of new charter cities, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

A special bill to develop the autonomous cities aimed at promoting economic growth passed the Honduran congress last month.

Lobo’s visit is expected to lead to “stronger substantial cooperation between the two countries such as increased activity of Korean companies in Honduras,” Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

Lee expressed satisfaction with the strengthened collaboration between the two countries since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1962, and said Lobo’s visit to Seoul, the second so far by a Honduran president, would serve as major momentum for the development of bilateral relations.

Lee thanked the Honduran leader for supporting South Korea when it concluded that North Korea torpedoed its naval ship Cheonan last March.

Lobo arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a three-day official visit, the first by a Honduran president since 1997.

He is scheduled to tour the new city of Songdo in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, the Korea Development Institute, Daedeok science town and a Samsung Electronics plant in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

The Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa and South Korea’s southeastern coastal city of Pohang, Lee’s hometown, recently agreed to establish ties as sister cities.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)