S. Korean president to have talks with Chinese, Japanese leaders in Beijing

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is scheduled to visit China this weekend for talks with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts over strengthening three-way cooperation, the presidential office said Wednesday.

The two-day summit scheduled for Sunday in Beijing will bring together Lee, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for discussions on issues ranging from situations on the Korean peninsula and regional cooperation, according to presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

The leaders will also discuss expanding economic cooperation and seeking joint responses to natural disasters, and attend a separate meeting involving businessmen from the three Asian economic powerhouses.

The annual summit was launched in 2008, expanding on their meetings held on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summits.