President Lee Myung-bak proposed Wednesday that South Korea and Ghana step up cooperation on the development of oil and natural gas in the African nation, Lee's office said.
Lee made the remark in a meeting with visiting Ghanaian Vice President John Dramani Mahama. He arrived in Seoul on Monday for a four-day stay aimed at discussing ways to boost economic partnership between the two nations, Cheong Wa Dae said.
"President Lee appraised that Ghana is constantly developing as an exemplary democratic country in Africa and said the (South Korean) government will especially bolster cooperation with Ghana and other African countries," it said in a press release.
Lee, formerly a CEO, has been actively staging so-called energy diplomacy and reaching out to Africa. South Korea, one of Asia's largest economies, produces not a single drop of oil and imports most of its energy and mineral needs.
The president proposed the strengthening of cooperation between the public petroleum firms in the two nations with regard to the development of oil and natural gas in Ghana, Cheong Wa Dae said.
"He also asked for active support so that South Korean companies can take part in the construction of plants and infrastructure in Ghana," it added.
In response, the Ghanaian leader asked South Korea to expand its development aid for his country and share its experience in economic growth, the office said.