South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard agreed Friday that the two countries should cooperate closely on various international stages, including the United Nations, a spokeswoman said.

   During a 12-minute phone conversation, Gillard congratulated Park on her election last week as South Korea's first female president, saying she is very happy to work with another female leader from Asia, according to Park's spokeswoman Cho Yoon-sun.

   Park expressed gratitude for the words as well as for the congratulatory Twitter message Gillard sent after Park's election on Dec. 19, the spokeswoman said.

   Gillard was quoted as saying that relations between South Korea and Australia are in the best shape, as she considers South Korea an important partner and will cooperate with Seoul on various issues, Cho said.

   Park appreciated that cooperation between the two countries has rapidly expanded and said she will try to bolster all-round cooperation with Australia while in office.

   Park also stressed that the two countries, as mid-power countries in the Asia-Pacific, should strengthen partnership in various international arenas, such as the Group of 20 nations forum, the East Asia Forum and the U.N. Security Council.

   Both South Korea and Australia will work as non-permanent members of the council next year. (Yonhap News)