Lee to hold summit with Indian president next week

President Lee Myung-bak will hold a summit with Indian President Pratibha Patil early next week to discuss ways to further ties between the two countries, Korea's presidential office said on Wednesday.

The talks scheduled for Monday in Seoul will focus on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields, including diplomacy, security, economy, trade and culture, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Shortly after the talks, the two countries will sign an agreement on nuclear energy cooperation with their leaders attending, it said.

Patil is scheduled to arrive in Korea on Sunday for a four-day state visit at Lee's invitation.

During the visit, the Indian leader will also lay flowers before a bronze bust sculpture of Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore that was recently erected in central Seoul by the two countries to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the late poet. Patil is also scheduled to visit a research complex of Samsung Group.

"Bilateral cooperation is becoming stronger after they upgraded their relations as strategic partners and a CEPA (comprehensive economic partnership agreement) signed between them went into effect last year," a presidential official said.

"The visit will become a chance to solidify this relationship," he added. (Yonhap News)