South Korea and Germany held a summit meeting here on Monday to enhance cooperation at the G20 summit, speed up finalizing free trade agreement between South Korea and the European Union (EU) and learn from Germany's experience of reunification, South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.

"President Lee Myung-bak and President Horst Kohler have held in-depth discussions on hosting a successful G20 summit in Seoul this year, the faster implementation of the South Korean-EU free trade agreement, bolstering bilateral trade and investment, as well as cooperation in eco-friendly policies," the Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.

Lee asked for Germany's support in expediting the process of reaching the South Korea-EU free trade agreement, as he underscored the fact that Germany is South Korea's largest trade partner in Europe and the second biggest investor, the statement said.

In addition, as Germany celebrates its 20th anniversary of reunification, Kohler agreed to lend support in helping South Korea take lessons from Germany's past experience of reunification.

Kohler's four-day trip marks the first time in eight years for a German president to visit South Korea, and it is his third time in the country following visits in 2000 and 2004 as managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

Later Monday, Kohler is scheduled to meet with National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o as well as the country's cultural and religious leaders.

South Korea will host the G20 summit on Nov. 11-12 this year in Seoul, and hopes to finalize the free trade deal with the EU in the first quarter of this year.

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