Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung met with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi, to discuss the continued cooperation between South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his office announced on Friday. The meeting took place at Cheong Wa Dae, where President Lee emphasized the importance of building on the partnership established during his state visit to the UAE last November, aimed at fostering collaboration for the next century.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee expressed gratitude to the UAE for prioritizing crude oil supplies to South Korea in March amid geopolitical tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. He highlighted the expanding cooperation between the two nations in various sectors such as defense, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and culture. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung mentioned that President Lee called for close communication between key officials from both countries, specifically his chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik and Khaldoon, to ensure tangible achievements resulting from this collaboration.
President Lee also requested that Khaldoon convey his best regards to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In response, Khaldoon conveyed the UAE president's regards to Lee, affirming that the UAE views South Korea as a "brother nation" that has been supportive during challenging times. The relationship between the two countries has now evolved to encompass future-oriented sectors such as investment, space, health, and education.
Khaldoon's visit follows a previous trip in January and comes amid speculation about a potential summit between the two countries in South Korea next month. This speculation underscores the ongoing commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation.