The National Assembly speaker Kim Hyong-o is visiting three Mediterranean nations from January 12 to January 25. On Friday, January 22, he met the Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou to discuss collaboration in marine transportation and shipbuilding.

Kim said that a partnership between Greece, the world leader in marine transportation, and Korea, the world’s top shipbuilder, will substantially contribute to bilateral development. He also requested Greece to support Korea’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and to attend the EXPO 2012 Yeosu Korea.

According to the National Assembly speaker’s office, Papandreou responded that he would elicit the two Greek International Olympic Committee members to proactively support Korea in order to win the chance to host the Winter Olympics.