His Excellency

Mr. Lee Myung-bak

President Elect of the Republic of Korea

Seoul

December 24, 2007

Esteemed Mr. Lee Myung-bak,

Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on the happy occasion of your election the President of the Republic of Korea. Your landslide victory testifies a broad public support to the course you declared towards further uplift of the national economy and strengthening your country�s prestige at the international arena.

In Russia you are well-known as a sincere and consistent champion of the cementing friendship between our two countries. We appreciate your role in starting Russian-Korean economic interaction at the dawn of our relationship as well as your contribution to establishing sister-city ties between Moscow and Seoul during your visit to Russia in 2004 and their further enhancement.

I am confident that your activities at the high post of the Head of State will add a new quality to the relations of comprehensive and trustful partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea and will help to deepen mutually beneficial dialogue on topical international issues in the interests of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Asia as a whole.

In this connection and proceeding from the urgent necessity of maintaining close and regular contacts at the top state level I am happy to invite you to pay a visit to our country.

May I wish you, Mr. President Elect, good health and all success in your highly responsible activities as well as welfare and prosperity to the friendly people of Korea.

V.Putin

Moscow, Kremlin