S. Korean President Lee Myung-bak has departed for Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday morning to attend the U.N. Climate Summit.

Lee is scheduled to arrive in Copenhagen Thursday afternoon local time and make a keynote speech titled "Taking Action Together."

In the speech, Lee is planning to emphasize the need for a reduction in greenhouse gases, especially in terms of 'how to' make the cuts, and propose the establishment of a 'global partnership framework' involving both developed and developing countries, local media Yonhap reported.

During his stay, Lee is also expected to officially announce S Korea's bid to host the climate summit in 2012.

In a statement last Tuesday, the presidential office said, "The government has decided to hold the 2012 U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Seoul."

The statement came after the administration announced last month its plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent by 2020 from the 2005 levels, which represents a 30 percent reduction from the expected emission levels in 2020.

Lee will fly back to Seoul Saturday after attending a gala dinner hosted by Danish Queen Margrethe II and a luncheon meeting hosted by Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen respectively.