South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Monday he is confident that the U.S. Congress will ratify the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.
Lee, who is visiting Japan after a five-day stay in the United States, said at a breakfast meeting in Tokyo that U.S. President George W. Bush promised that the United States will ratify the FTA this year.
"I'm convinced that U.S. congressional ratification of the KORUS FTA will be realized this year. I heard a number of opponents in the U.S. Senate and House have changed their position in consideration of U.S. national benefits," Lee was quoted by Yonhap as saying.
The U.S. president also promised during their summit talks at Camp David over the weekend that his government will take measures so South Korea can join the U.S. visa waiver program (VWP) by October.
Lee also said Bush instructed his Cabinet ministers and aides to take actions to implement the VWP for South Koreans at the earliest possible date this year, setting October as his deadline.
Lee arrived in Japan Sunday and will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda on Monday. He is to return to Seoul later on the day.
Source: Xinhua
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