His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of South Korea have shown during the extraordinary situation that the world has faced this year due to the unprecedented effects of the emerging corona virus (COFED-19) and the global health crisis that accompanied it A true translation of the meanings of friendship and solidarity demonstrated that the two countries have common interests, goals and values that can be achieved in the framework of close cooperation.
His Highness said - in an article quoting the South Korean Yonhap News Agency under the title "a model for bilateral partnership that has become stronger after the outbreak of (Covid-19)" on the occasion of his visit to South Korea scheduled tomorrow, coinciding with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries - The UAE expresses its appreciation to the people of the South Korean state as the two countries have distinguished bilateral relations. South Korea was one of the first countries to encounter the (Covid-19) virus at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak during the past months, and South Korea has gained a great experience that it shared with us and the international community, As the South Korean experiences formed an important part in the field of best practices that attached great importance in the efforts to combat the pandemic and stop the spread of the virus, as South Korea moved early and responsible in order to limit the spread of (Covid 19) and provided a role model for the international level.
And His Highness expressed the UAE’s pride that it benefited from South Korea’s experience in implementing the national measures aimed at limiting the spread of the virus while continuing its basic international logistics services, while the UAE provided assistance to evacuate Korean citizens and their families from Tehran during the height of the virus’s outbreak in the region and the country kept Trade links with Seoul before you have to temporarily close the border.
His Highness also expressed the UAE’s appreciation to South Korea for giving it priority in exporting (Covid-19) virus testing equipment and medical supplies to the country, as both the UAE and South Korea sought to send the necessary assistance to many other countries within the framework of the two countries ’commitment to principles Humanitarian action.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said in his article: The two countries are located in strategic and vital areas, and both support the achievement of stability and prosperity in the surrounding countries, and therefore the two countries seek to limit extremism and expansion activities - wherever they come from - by promoting collective action. What is common in our regions within the framework of international law, and we believe that cooperation and solidarity are essential factors for our two countries due to the challenges that we faced together and individually.
His Highness added: We have adopted the model of bilateral relations between our two countries as an example to follow for our relations with other countries. The UAE and South Korea have broken down travel barriers and signed a mutual investment agreement and the two sides pledged to enhance cultural cooperation as well as other forms of exchange. There were also 14 weekly flights between South Korea And the Emirates before the current global health crisis, and we hope that this number will grow in the future after the decline of the (Covid 19) virus crisis and the easing of the accompanying restrictions, and we are proud to launch the UAE-Korean cultural dialogue 2020 in January on the occasion of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries And celebrate Emirati and Korean culture in the two countries.
His Highness stressed that the bilateral relations between the UAE and South Korea have witnessed remarkable growth since the establishment of official diplomatic relations between them in 1980, and he said: Over the years, the UAE looked forward to cooperation with South Korea due to its great experience in the fields of manufacturing and technology, and South Korea looked forward to cooperation with the UAE due to its experience The major in the field of logistics, trade and tourism in the Middle East, indicating that his bilateral relations reached an important stage when the UAE signed contracts with the Korean Electric Power Company, Hyundai and Samsung C&T to help build the first nuclear power plant In the Arab world, where the Barakah Nuclear Power Station will meet 25% of the UAE's domestic energy needs when it begins operating at full capacity, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21 million tons annually.
His Highness also affirmed that the two countries enjoy a strong partnership in the traditional energy sector by signing important agreements in the fields of oil and gas fields, noting that in the year 2018 the two countries supported their distinguished relations at all levels after they signed a distinguished strategic partnership that will enhance the opportunities that establish markets And new economic channels outside South Korea and the UAE.
His Highness said: Today, the commercial partnership between the UAE and South Korea includes a large number of sectors and activities, including commodity trade, technology development, research and development in the field of energy, financial services, logistics, health, food security, agriculture, and other sectors.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan pointed out that the volume of bilateral non-oil trade between the two countries has reached nearly 5 billion US dollars, and there are more than 50 Korean companies based in the UAE, which includes more than ten thousand South Korean citizens.
In spite of all these distinguished statistics of the two countries, the two sides considered this as just the beginning of a deeper and broader relationship through which we provide common solutions for a greater number of markets, and therefore it will be appropriate for South Korea to have a distinct participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, which will be held in the year of 2021 Given the unprecedented conditions that the world faced due to the outbreak of the emerging Corona Virus pandemic, we welcome the commitment of the South Korean state to participate strongly in this historic event that coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the Union.
His Highness concluded his article by saying: I would like to express my personal appreciation to my counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Korea, Kang Kyung-wa, for giving me the honor to be the first foreign minister to visit your country since the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic, my visit today is a testament to the appreciation and mutual respect between the UAE leadership The United Arab Emirates and South Korea to each other and our optimistic vision of the post-Coved-19 world as well as a bright future that we will cooperate in shaping together.