President Park Geun-hye held summit talks with the King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander during his state visit to Korea on November 3. The two leaders discussed measures to boost bilateral cooperation in energy, including nuclear power, water and wind power, as well as other sectors.





King Willem-Alexander’s state visit is a reciprocal visit for President Park’s official visit to the Netherlands this March where she became the first Korean head of state to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.

President Park told the Dutch king, “This is the first state visit by a Dutch leader since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Netherlands in 1961.” She hoped that the mutual cooperation among companies of the two countries can further extend through the Dutch king’s visit to Korea, mentioning that more than 100 Dutch business people accompanied him on his trip.

“During the summit this past March, Korea and the Netherlands shared a common understanding that the two governments could produce very creative outcomes if the Top-9 new industries policy of the Netherlands and Korea’s creative industries policy could collaborate. Both countries discussed various cooperation measures in this regard,” said President Park.

“I am glad that the outcome of the previous summit can bear fruit by signing a contract for the OYSTER project, an experimental reactor deal in the Netherlands, and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation on brain research,” she added.

King Willem-Alexander said that the development of Korea within just half a century is amazing. He emphasized the bilateral relationship between Korea and the Netherlands by saying that both countries have active business relationships between their companies, share a close friendship and brotherhood, and have a strong relationship with common values,

While both leaders were present, the two governments signed a total of 4 MOUs covering research cooperation between the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and the Delft University of Technology of the Netherlands, cooperation on brain research and cooperation on the water sector.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
arete@korea.kr