SEOUL, March 7 (UPI) -- Financial chiefs from South Korea and the United States Wednesday shared optimistic views about ongoing free trade negotiations, Seoul officials said.
Meeting with South Korea's finance minister, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson also expressed confidence about the U.S. economy despite fluctuations in global equity and foreign exchange markets, they said.
Paulson arrived in Seoul late Tuesday as part of an Asian tour to discuss a free trade agreement and other bilateral issues.
"It is so important for the future of the two economies to conclude an FTA deal in which both governments agreed to actively cooperate to reach a smooth and early agreement," Seoul's Finance Ministry said in a statement after the meeting.
Paulson also met President Roh Moo-hyun during which they promised to push for the conclusion of the free trade deal as scheduled this month, the presidential official said.
