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Author: Li Haiya
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap News Agency) — President Yoon Hee-yeol departed for the United Arab Emirates on Saturday as part of a swing between the two countries, focusing on boosting South Korean exports, especially in energy and arms.
Yoon will arrive in Abu Dhabi for a state visit, the first by a South Korean leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1980, and to meet UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
During his four-day stay, he will also visit South Korean military contingent Akh Force and the South Korean-built Barakah nuclear power plant, a symbolic measure reaffirming his commitment to dismantling the nuclear phase-out policy of his predecessor Moon Jae-in. exist.
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks next to a drone model during a visit to the Defense Development Agency in the central city of Daejeon, December 29, 2022, to examine the country’s development of drones and missiles following North Korea’s recent drone infiltration Progress, with photos posted here by the Office of the President. (Photo not for sale) (Yonhap News Agency)
“The selection of the UAE as the first foreign trip and first visit to a Middle Eastern country this year reflects President Yoon’s firm commitment to focus our diplomacy on revitalizing the economy and increasing exports,” national security adviser Kim Sung-han told reporters earlier.
“Through this visit, we will greatly strengthen our strategic cooperation with the brotherly UAE in the four core areas of nuclear power, energy, investment and defense industry,” he said, adding that it was the first state visit to the UAE. The UAE has demonstrated the desire of the two countries to elevate their special strategic partnership to a higher level.
The two sides are reportedly in the final stages of concluding some 30 memorandums of understanding involving the government and the private sector, with energy, arms and investment among key areas of cooperation.
A senior presidential official said there was a plan to announce a deal to export South Korean arms to the United Arab Emirates.
“The atmosphere between South Korea and the UAE for security or military cooperation involving the arms industry is very mature,” the official said.
Yoon will also accompany a business delegation of about 100 Korean company officials to support their expansion into the UAE and discuss the possibility of working with the UAE sovereign wealth fund.
Yoon will travel from the UAE to Zurich, Switzerland on Tuesday to meet South Korean residents in the city before heading to Davos for the World Economic Forum on Wednesday and Thursday.
In Davos, the President will meet with the CEOs of major global companies to discuss how governments and the private sector can work together to overcome complex global crises and ensure sustainable growth.
CEOs will include chief executives from South Korean conglomerates such as Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, as well as Intel, IBM, Qualcomm, JP Morgan and Sony.
On Thursday, the president will deliver a special address at the forum to discuss how the international community can work together to overcome the global economic crisis.
He will present ideas for international cooperation and solidarity to strengthen supply chains, transition to clean energy, and build a digital order, while elaborating on South Korea’s role and commitment to achieve these goals.
On the same day, Yin will also visit the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich to meet with scholars and discuss scientific and technological cooperation.
He will go home next Saturday.
hague@yna.co.kr
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