Prime Minister Han Seung-soo has left on a seven-day visit to Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey.

Han will attend the Doha forum in Qatar to discuss ways of increasing financial resources for international development. He will deliver a speech calling for reform of the international financial system and increased developmental assistance.

He is also scheduled to meet with heads of international bodies, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Han will visit Kuwait on Sunday to discuss energy cooperation, before moving to Turkey for bilateral prime ministerial talks on Korean companies' participation in the nation's construction projects.

The prime minister's office said his visit will strengthen Korea's diplomatic standing in the Middle East, an area which Korea depends on for over 80 percent of its energy imports.

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