South Korea leader coming to Manila on Nov. 20

Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Myung-bak will be in Manila from November 20 to 22 for a three-day state visit on the invitation of President Benigno Aquino III, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Lee will meet with President Aquino to discuss ways to further enhance the rapidly growing relations between the two countries.

Also on their agenda will be the recent developments and the future direction of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-ROK relations, the DFA said.

Mr. Aquino will host a state dinner in honor of Lee.

While in the Philippines, Lee will attend the Korea-Philippines Business Forum organized by the Philippine and Korean Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

He will also participate in a town hall meeting with students and faculty of Ateneo de Manila University.

In the past several years, the ROK has consistently been the Philippines’ top source of foreign tourists.

The DFA said that last year, the number of South Korean visitors reached 740,000, accounting for 21 percent of all foreign tourists who visited the Philippines in 2010. Tina G. Santos