President Park Geun-hye met with 20 young adults from the United Arab Emirates who took part in the Youth Ambassadors Program, in Abu Dhabi during her official visit to the UAE. The president gave words of encouragement and stressed the importance of exchanges between adolescents from Korea and the UAE.

"The exchange of young adults from both nations is truly future-oriented and constructive," said President Park. "I am very glad that the exchange of adolescents between the two nations and their cooperation has been going so well."

"Korea and the UAE have been so closely cooperating with each other that they are called nations of brothers," said the president. "The UAE is the only nation in the region that has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Korea."



"Despite your busy schedule, I am very glad and grateful that you were able to spare the time to meet with us," said a student who was representing the Youth Ambassadors Program. "On the orders of Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, we set out to learn as much as we could from Korea. We visited Samsung, Hyundai Motor and Posco, among others. I would like to thank the many Korean institutions and officials who supported us during our visit there."

When President Park asked why they wanted to become Korea specialists, one female student answered, "Young adults from both nations are attracted to the cultures of the other country. Our nations share similarities. Because of that, many young UAE adults are fascinated by Korea."

"Today, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Korean cultural center in the UAE. I believe many of you will be able to make use of it quite often in the future," said the president.

President Park then asked about which fields the students are studying and how they think the two nations could cooperate.

"I know that Korea has a very advanced medical and healthcare system," said a male student. "Korean hospitals are operating in Korea and I hope that they will invest more in the UAE."

"Korea has a well-developed medical examination system, and a Korean medical examination center is expected to be opened in the UAE," said the president. "More Korean hospitals and medical professionals will come to the UAE and there will be more exchanges. Bilateral cooperation on medicine and healthcare, and on halal food, nuclear power and information & communications technology, will create high value-added industries and is being expanded. There will be many areas, sectors and opportunities in which students like you will be able to work."

"I expect a bright future for the young people of both Korea and the UAE," said the president.



On the same day, President Park visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

President Park paid her respects at the tomb of the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who is respected as the "father of the nation." The president then visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque after donning a white headscarf, a shayla, in accordance with the Quran.




President Park took off her shoes before entering the mosque. The president toured the mosque and listened to an explanation about the mosque from one of the chief managers there.

"I know that the grand mosque boasts various Islamic architectural styles and even displays some post-modern designs," said the president. "The mosque shows off the kind of diversity and inclusiveness that is sought by the UAE."

After touring the mosque, the president said, "It is beautiful and it looks like a huge work of art. It is very impressive."

The president then signed the guestbook and wrote, "I hope that the UAE will make huge progress with the kind of diversity and inclusiveness that is expressed in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque."

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jun2@korea.kr