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Obama arrives in S. Korea for 2-day visit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-18 19:59

SEOUL: US President Barack Obama arrived late Wednesday in Osan Air base, near the city of Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, kicking off a two-day visit to South Korea.

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During his stay in Seoul, which is to last less than 24 hours, Obama will meet with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak for a summit early Thursday in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties and to find ways to break through various regional and global issues.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear problem will top the agenda of the summit.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss over a speedy ratification of a free trade deal pact between the two sides, the two countries' joint efforts to fight climate change, Seoul's hosting the G-20 summit meeting in November 2010, and the issue of South Korea's troop dispatch to Afghanistan.

Obama will head home late Thursday after visiting a US military base to meet American servicemen there.