President Park Geun-hye met with Federica Mogherini, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, on May 4 in Seoul.

“Korea is the only country with which the EU has signed the Framework Agreement on Trade and Cooperation, a free trade agreement (FTA) and the Framework Participation Agreement on Crisis Management Operations,” President Park told the EU representatives, while predicting that in the future Korea-EU cooperation will be further bolstered. She also added that bilateral cooperation will be expanded as the two sides will form a new cooperation structure on security and defense starting this year.

Mogherini praised the role Korea plays around the world, such as in the Middle East and North Africa, and its contributions to the international community. She expressed her hope that the EU and Korea could enhance their global cooperation based on their common values.

President Park highly valued Mogherini’s leadership in reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, while hoping that the EU would be able to contribute to resolving the North Korean nuclear weapons problem and, in the future, to peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Mogherini expressed her support for President Park's vision for peace and cooperation across Northeast Asia. She told the president that the EU will actively cooperate with Korea to support Seoul’s efforts, as the EU already has experience with integration. In regard to the Korean government's Eurasia Initiative, the EU representative expressed her will to support the EU's active participation in the International Symposium on Eurasia Transport and Logistics Network conference that will take place in Seoul later this year.

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