The two-day visit to Doha includes summit talks with the emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, a forum with business leaders of the two countries, and a meeting with Municipality and Urban Planning Minister Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Ensuring a stable supply of crude oil is expected to be featured in Lee's talks with Qatari leaders as Seoul is expected to reduce imports from Iran in line with U.S. sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation accused of seeking illicit nuclear programs.
Lee is also expected to campaign for South Korean companies to participate in projects to build World Cup facilities and other infrastructure.
 |
In an interview with the leading Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq published Thursday, Lee said the summit with Hamad will focus on oil supplies and construction projects, as well as climate change and green growth.
Qatar is this year's host of the U.N. Climate Change Conference.
"I understand that ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is pushing to establish infrastructure, such as roads and railways, and working actively on developing new cities. I anticipate cooperation between the two countries in this area," Lee said.
Lee stressed that South Korea has excellent technologies and rich experience in highway and railroad construction and has undertaken various projects overseas. The country also has enriched know-how in new city development, with a dozen new cities under construction in South Korea, Lee said.
Lee also wants cooperation with Qatar to ensure there is no disruption of oil supply to South Korea.
On climate change, Lee said South Korea is willing to extend active support for Qatar to successfully host the U.N. conference, emphasizing that one of the key policies of his administration is "low carbon green growth," which calls for seeking economic growth through environment-friendly technologies and industries.
jschang@yna.co.kr
(END)
