Drilon thanks South Koreas Kim for Leyte assistance

South Korean National Assembly Speaker Won-ki Kim paid a courtesy call on Senate President and Liberal Party head Franklin Drilon at 11:00 this morning at the Senate Ceremonial Hall where the two officials discussed measures to expand trade relations between the two countries.

During their meeting, Drilon thanked Kim for the $1 million donation made by the Republic of South Korea for the relief operations and rehabilitation of the families displaced by the recent landslide in Southern Leyte.

Drilon told Kim that the Philippine government was determined to expand its current trade relations with South Korea, particularly in the area of agriculture, such as the trading of fresh fruits and marine products.

"The Philippines counts South Korea as one of its major trading partners," Drilon said, noting that South Korea is ranked as the Philippines ninth biggest trading partner.

The South Korean Speaker was accompanied by the six members of the National Assembly and some staff officials as well as South Korean media men. The members of the South Korean National Assembly in the delegation were Hahn-koo Lee, Nak-Sung Kim, Eui-Yong Chung, Jae-Hong Kim, Jong-geel Je, and Kyung-Won La.

After the call, the Senate hosted a lunch for the South Korean delegation at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel.

Kim is in his seventh term as a lawmaker in South Korea and is a former Executive Chairman of the ruling Uri Party in South Korea. The Uri Party is a sister party of the Liberal Party of the Philippines headed by Drilon as party president. He also serves as special advisor to South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun. The Uri Party is an observer party of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats of which is chaired by Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Drilon and Kim first met in September last year when both officials attended the 2nd World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments held in New York, USA.