Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will arrive in Chennai Sunday afternoon on a four-day state visit, the highlight of which will be his attending the Republic Day parade here Jan 26 as the chief guest.
Lee, along with a high-level delegation, would have his first engagement in Chennai, which has become a hub of Korean activity with Hyundai setting up its first automobile factory there in 1995. He will reach Delhi by a special aircraft in the evening.

The operational part of the visit will start Monday, with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhwan and the laying of a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial.

Lee will later address a joint meeting of the apex industry chambers. Economic ties are expected to be scaled up with this visit, with South Korea already the seventh largest foreign investor in India with $2 bn worth of investments.

Also, South Korea has made the largest FDI in country with the $12 bn Posco steel project in Orissa, for which the stage II environmental clearance was given by the environment ministry Dec 29.

Lee will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday evening, after which several agreements are expected to be signed, especially in the areas of information technology and space.

A state banquet will be hosted by President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan in honour of the visiting leader.

On Tuesday morning, Lee will be the chief guest at India’s 61st Republic Day parade on Raj Path and will witness the annual jamboree of military discipline and colourful traditions. He will also attend the At Home at the presidential palace in the afternoon.

Lee and his delegation will leave early Wednesday morning.