Doha, HE President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol stressed that the Republic of Korea and the State of Qatar should at this stage further build upon what they have achieved over the last five decades to usher in an even brighter future.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency , His Excellency said: "It holds much significance to be the first Korean President to make a state visit to Qatar. I hope this visit will serve as an invaluable opportunity to elevate our bilateral relations to a new level." HE the President added that he will have in-depth discussions with HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on how to shape the two countries relations for the next 50 years.
His Excellency noted that the Republic of Korea and the State of Qatar will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year. "Over the past half century, our two countries have continued to work together, contributing to each others advancement and prosperity in an exemplary manner, especially in the energy and construction sectors." As Koreas second largest supplier of LNG, Qatar has provided a reliable buttress that has helped Korea maintain its energy security with its stable source of energy amid the restructuring of global supply chains, he added.
He added that over the past 50 years, Korea has participated in approximately 130 construction projects in Qatar. Most notably, Korean companies took part in the building of the National Museum of Qatar, Lusail Plaza Towers and other landmarks which now serve as symbols of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, he noted.
In this regard, he affirmed that the two countries should at this stage further build upon what they have achieved over the last five decades to usher in an even brighter future.
He pointed out: "For this reason, the Korean government intends to expand the scope of our cooperation, moving beyond the fields of energy and construction to encompass investment, the defense industry, agriculture, culture and people-to-people exchanges. We will also push for cooperation programs which will bring more tangible benefits for the peoples of both countries. To this end, we will nurture an even broader range of channels for strategic communication." HE the President said that Qatar is strengthening its role and contribution to promote regional peace, and Korea is broadening its diplomatic horizons, aiming to emerge as a "global pivotal state", looking forward to the two countries working together even more closely in regional and international arenas to achieve these goals.
While stressing the importance of the visit, His Excellency said he has been profoundly impressed by the way Qatar is establishing itself as an advanced nation through the "Qatar National Vision 2030" under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
He said: "Through this visit, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Qatars efforts towards national development as well as an opportunity to explore ways in which Korea can contribute and cooperate in that development process." He expressed his belief that Korea and Qatar need to lay out a long-term goal for the development of their bilateral relations and find strategic ways to collaborate in pursuit of their shared objectives. (MORE)
Source: Qatar News Agency