Assembly speaker Kim to promote Busan Expo in Spain, Portugal

National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo speaks to the reporters on Aug. 21. [YONHAP]

National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo will visit Spain and Poland starting this week with a focus on promoting Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo and expanding energy cooperation, his office said Thursday.

Kim's seven-day itinerary, which begins Friday, will include talks with parliamentary leaders on promoting the bid to bring the expo to Busan and strengthening ties in renewable energy and electric vehicle batteries, according to his office.

In Spain, Kim is scheduled to meet with Meritxell Batet Lamana, leader of the Congress of Deputies, and Ander Gil Garcia, president of the Senate, to discuss cooperation in renewable energy and construction exports.

In Portugal, he plans to meet with Portuguese Assembly speaker Augusto Santos Silva.

It will be Kim's second overseas visit since taking office in July. Last month, he visited Poland and Romania to promote arms exports.

Yonhap