President Park Geun-hye held a summit meeting with the emir of Kuwait, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait City on March 2.

President Park said the two nations have continuously maintained a friendly, cooperative relationship since the beginning of their diplomatic relations in 1979. The president also said that she is glad that the two sides have recently improved their cooperation, turning it into an inclusive partnership that not only covers the economy, but also politics, diplomacy, the arts and regional & global issues.

President Park said, in particular, that both Kuwait Vision 2035 and the Korean government's Three Year Plans for Economic Innovation are similar, as they are designed to create new growth engines and to nurture high value-added industries through creativity and innovation.

The president said that these two schemes have great potential for bilateral mutual cooperation and that the two nations should expand cooperation further, from existing areas, including energy and construction, to high value-added sectors, such as information and communications technology (ICT), railroads & transportation and medical & health services.




The emir said that the Kuwaiti government and public are ready to further solidify the special cooperative relationship they have with Korea, and that he is glad that Korean companies are building the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Causeway, also known as the Sheikh Jaber Bridge, and the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, both of which are set to become proud landmarks in Kuwait. The emir said he expected that President Park's visit would become an opportunity to boost cooperation with the Korean government, the Korean National Assembly and with Korean companies.

President Park said that the two sides need to apply ICT to their ongoing cooperation in the energy sector in order to create high value-added businesses. The president also said that petroleum corporations from both nations are now conducting joint research into natural resource development and that these efforts are expected to improve economic efficiency throughout the energy industry, from oil exploration to oil development and production. The president hoped that the two sides would continue cooperating in the energy sector in a mutually beneficial way, especially on developing a smart grid that could optimize energy efficiency by applying IT to the electric utility system.

President Park said Korean companies have taken part in a number of critical construction and factory projects in Kuwait over the past 40 years and that they have contributed to the development of the Middle Eastern country. The president asked for the emir's interest and support in helping Korean companies so that they can take part in new refinery projects and can continue to contribute to building infrastructure across Kuwait.

The president said she expects more active cooperation on medical and healthcare services, including sending Kuwaiti patients to Korea, training Kuwaiti medical professionals and building and managing hospitals in Kuwait. This would be aided, she said, by a memorandum of understanding that covers medical and healthcare cooperation, recently signed between health authorities of the two nations. The president also suggested that the two sides closely cooperate on training Kuwaiti government employees responsible for ICT policies and related professionals, a project proposed by the Korean government.

The emir said that Korea is widely known for its successful completion of construction projects, no matter what kind of project it may be, and hoped that Korean companies would take part in various projects in Kuwait, including in IT.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of human exchanges as the two sides strengthen their relationship. They both welcomed measures that would resolve inconveniences encountered by their countrymen entering and staying in both nations, and which would improve many other conveniences, such as the waiver of fees for issuing a visa. The president also asked for the Kuwaiti government's support so that the two nations could quickly sign an agreement to accept each other's drivers' licenses. The emir responded that he would review the issue and take necessary steps. After the summit, foreign ministers of the two nations signed an agreement to waive visas for diplomats, government officials and holders of special passports as the two leaders looked on.

The two heads of state also exchanged opinions on their cooperation on the international stage, as well as cooperation on various international issues and on building peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East. They agreed to strengthen cooperation at the United Nations and other international organizations and exchanged opinions on cooperating on providing humanitarian aid and at the World Water Forum. The emir asked for Korea's participation in and support for the third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria, to be held in Kuwait later in March. President Park appreciated that Kuwait is engaged in humanitarian activities under the emir's leadership and said that the Korean government would participate in and contribute to the upcoming conference.

President Park expressed her hope that Kuwait would participate in the World Water Forum to be held in Korea in April. The emir responded that Kuwait has placed much emphasis on water and that it greatly appreciates Korea's contribution to the issue by hosting the forum. The emir also expressed Kuwait's support for the forum and willingness to take part in the event.

President Park explained the Korean government's efforts being made to denuclearize North Korea and on building a foundation for Korean reunification. The president also noted that Kuwait is the only gulf nation that has an embassy in North Korea and that it has maintained a cooperative relationship with North Korea through humanitarian aid. President Park asked for Kuwait's support and hoped it would play a constructive role in Korea's efforts to overcome the division of the Korean Peninsula and would help solve problems related to the North. The emir shared the common view about the importance of solving North Korea's nuclear weapons development program and said that, as a country that has diplomatic relationships with both the South and the North, it would take great interest and offer its support to issues regarding reunification.

By Wi Tack-whan, Limb Jae-un
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
whan23@korea.kr