South Korea agreed on Tuesday to expand its global health partnership with the foundation set up by Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.

Axar.az reports that the deal came after Gates arrived in South Korea late on Monday, calling for Seoul to play a bigger role in global health and to increase aid.

The agreement includes strengthening private and public sector cooperation between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and South Korea in projects such as a global health research fund, and stepping up cooperation with health organisations including CEPI, South Korea's foreign and health ministries said in a statement.