Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos will visit South Korea next week for summit talks with President Lee Myung-bak on economic cooperation and other issues, the presidential office announced Wednesday.

Santos will arrive on Sept. 14 for a three-day state visit that will also include a visit to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, a meeting with South Korean business leaders and a tour of industrial facilities, Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.

In summit talks scheduled for Sept. 15, Lee and Santos plan to discuss a possible free trade agreement between the two countries and cooperation on a wide range of areas, such as energy and resources, infrastructure and plant construction, science and technology and cultural exchanges, the statement said.

Colombia was the only country in Central and South America that sent troops to help South Korea defend itself against invading troops from North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. The conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the two sides still technically at war.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

Trade volume between the two countries amounted to US$782 million last year. 

(Yonhap News)