DOHA – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani agreed to elevate their countries’ relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” announced the presidential office following a summit held in Doha on Wednesday.
According to a news release by Yonhap News Agency, the enhanced partnership supersedes the previous “comprehensive partnership” and aims to strengthen strategic cooperation between the two nations. This involves expanding diplomatic and security communication channels and intensifying collaboration in defense and the defense industry. As part of the agreement, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that calls for the exchange of defense industry information and the creation of a joint committee dedicated to this sector.
Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo informed reporters that the summit allowed both nations to deepen existing collaborations in energy and construction. It also broadened the scope of economic cooperation to include various sectors. He emphasized the upgraded partnership’s significance, particularly in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, where cooperation extends from supply to encompass broader linkages in the sector.
The summit took place at the Amiri Diwan, the office of the emir, on the second day of President Yoon’s two-day state visit to Qatar. The visit precedes the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, set to be marked next year.
To commemorate the state visit, South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Qatar’s state-owned petroleum company, QatarEnergy, entered into a $3.9 billion contract for the construction of 17 LNG carriers. The presidential office reported that the leaders agreed to extend cooperation in the LNG sector to include the carriers’ operation, maintenance, and repair.
The two heads of state also agreed on the need to expand practical cooperation into various other fields such as infrastructure, investment, farming, shipping, culture, people-to-people exchanges, and health. They engaged in in-depth discussions concerning regional and global issues as well.
President Yoon expressed hopes for Qatar’s mediatory role in regional matters and sought its support in the international response to North Korea’s unlawful nuclear and missile development activities. Emir Tamim voiced his support for South Korea’s policy on the Korean Peninsula, according to Kim Tae-hyo.
Following the summit, an MOU signing ceremony was held, concluding five additional MOUs covering cooperation in smart farming, advanced construction technologies, spatial information, small and medium-sized enterprises, and trade and investment promotion.