President Lee Myung-bak has departed for Southeast Asia to attend a number of bilateral summits and regional gatherings, including the 12th annual ASEAN Plus Three Summit.

Scheduled stops include Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, in that order.

Lee will arrive in Vietnam on Tuesday afternoon for a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The two will discuss the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries, the construction of nuclear power plants in Vietnam and the joint development of mineral resources there.

Lee will then fly to Cambodia on Thursday to hold a summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The two heads of state are expected to sign an agreement on preventing double taxation while promoting the joint development of mineral resources in Cambodia and massive afforestation projects.

After wrapping up his schedule in Cambodia, the president will visit Thailand to attend this year’s ASEAN Plus Three summit. While there, he will propose ways to tackle the economic crisis and climate change while seeking to increase South Korea’s trade with ASEAN member countries.

Lee will also promote the establishment of an Asian afforestation organization.

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