Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun met U.S. business executives Thursday during which they discussed cooperation in bilateral trade, officials said. Ahn met with James Kim, head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and other U.S. executives in Seoul earlier in the day, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. "We express our gratitude to U.S. businesses for creating quality jobs in South Korea and supporting the revitalization of regional economies through their investments, which are based on deep trust in the market," Ahn said. Ahn added that the United States stands as South Korea's "most important ally and economic partner," urging American businesses to continue paying close attention to Asia's fourth-largest economy. Source: Yonhap News Agency