President Park Geun-hye, currently visiting U.N. headquarters to attend the U.N. General Assembly, held a series of summits with world leaders during her visit to New York. President Park discussed issues of global interest with the leaders of Spain, Egypt and Uganda.

Park exchanged opinions with the king of Spain, Felipe VI, on how to boost cooperation between Korea and Spain when entering third markets and on various other issues, including renewable energy, tourism and aviation. They also discussed issues involving the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

Mentioning the increased number of Korean tourists visiting Spain, Park said that the two governments should extend cooperation in the aviation sector. She expressed her hope that both countries could discuss measures to expand current flights between Incheon and Madrid to reach countries in Central and South America.


King Felipe said that Korea is the third largest trading partner in Asia for Spain and that his country is carefully watching the rapid increase in bilateral trade. He also said that the introduction of a working holiday program between the two countries would offer good opportunities to bolster people-to-people exchanges between the youth of both countries and broaden understanding.

The Spanish monarch expressed his support for the Korean government’s efforts to create peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. He also said that he supports the common goal of denuclearization.



President Park also held summit talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the same day to discuss measures to help Korean firms participate in large-scale economic projects being carried out by the Egyptian government. Both Korean and Egyptian leaders talked about ways to boost bilateral economic cooperation in areas such as nuclear power plant construction.

President Park proposed to her Egyptian counterpart that he visit Korea next year to mark the 20th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship, and el-Sisi gladly accepted the invitation.

In the Korea-Uganda summit, Park congratulated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as Uganda became the chair country of the U.N. General Assembly.

Park and the Ugandan leader discussed ways to expand Korean firms’ participation in state infrastructure projects and in other development assistance projects, such as the Korean government's rural development program, the New Community Movement, or, Saemaeul Undong, which is also underway in Uganda.

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