FM Kim Sung-Hwan Visits the UAE

Minister Kim Sung-Hwan visited the United Arab Emirates on February 5-7. During the visit, he paid a courtesy call on Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; met with his UAE counterpart H.H Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; had gatherings with Korean business leaders in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; and visited the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. Minister Kim took note of strengthening ties in the economic and trade sectors and the bilateral relationship evolving into a comprehensive partnership in various other fields, including politics, military, culture, public health and education since the forging of a bilateral strategic partnership during President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to the UAE in 2009. He then voiced hope for further development of cooperative ties. After expressing special appreciation for the provision of a UAE plane for the transport of Somali pirates, Minister Kim explained ongoing efforts of Korean enterprises for economic development of the UAE and closer Korea-UAE ties. He then requested the UAE government’s continued interest in and consideration for increased presence of Korean firms in the market. Describing the development of Korea-UAE ties as unprecedentedly rapid, Minister Abdullah noted that the two countries will see their relationship develop ceaselessly in a wide range of fields, including politics, economy, trade, security, military, culture, and society. He proposed that the two countries seek ways to work together in a third country in the fields of climate change, and development and agricultural cooperation. The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the situation on the Korean peninsula and in the Middle East, including the North Korean nuclear issue and demonstrations in Egypt. They then agreed to work more closely together on the international stage, particularly in eradicating Somali piracy.