South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Friday warned against premature exit strategies, saying that "it is too early to withdraw stimulus measures as private investment and domestic consumption still remain weak", the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said on Saturday.

While addressing the G20 economic summit held in Pittsburgh, the United States, Lee said countries of the world should draw lessons from history to avoid premature exit plans.

"Each country should have exit strategies ready, but such strategies must be implemented based on close international coordination and agreed principles," he was quoted as saying.

"I believe it would be best, as a common principle, to draw up the exit plans centered on the International Monetary Fund," Lee added.

The president also urged the international community to prevent protectionism, although the protection measures "will be politically all the more attractive at times like these."

Lee also stressed the importance of the G20's leadership, noting that even after the undergoing global crisis comes to an end, the world could also face more serious problems such as global imbalance.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2009)