“Juntos vamos hacienda camino.”

President Park Geun-hye began her speech with that remark in Spanish at the Korea-Mexico Business Forum held at the presidential palace in Mexico City on April 4, where she gave words of encouragement to entrepreneurs from both Korea and Mexico. In English the phrase means, “Let us march together on our way,” or, "Together, we are making way."



“In 1962, the year when our two nations started diplomatic relations, a group of missionaries from Guadalupe, Mexico, flew to Korea to help build hospitals, orphanages and kindergartens,” President Park said. “Such ties that began with these warmhearted efforts have steadily evolved, particularly around economic cooperation, over the past many years.”

“Just as the Mexican proverb goes, ‘A tree casts a shadow only on those who are close to it,’ I hope that both nations will remain friends who are comfortable with each other and who rely on each other,” President Park said.

With more than 400 representatives from Korean and Mexican enterprises in attendance, President Park outlined ways to expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors, from trade and investment all the way up to infrastructure, technology and industry, all based on the friendship that has lasted to this day since 1962.

She emphasized the expansion of trade and investment, the strengthening of cooperation on infrastructure for electricity, traffic and water resources, and the vitalization of joint efforts at cultural exchanges, health and medical services and new energy industries.



"The scale of trade between our two countries has risen more than 12 times in just 20 or so years, hitting USD 14.4 billion last year, from merely USD 1.2 billion back in 1993," said President Park. "Considering our potential, the scale will probably further increase over the next few years," she added.

Regarding cooperation on infrastructure, she said, “I acknowledge that the Mexican government is currently pushing forward with a national-level infrastructure plan that will focus on large-scale investments in energy, transport, communications and urban development. When the credibility possessed by Korean companies is joined with the strong drive shown by the Mexican government, it will bring about win-win results for both nations,” she said.

Mentioning both the growing popularity of Mexican food in Korea, such as tacos and agave syrup, and the growing popularity of taekwondo, K-pop and Korean soap operas in Mexico, President Park said, “The recent signing of an MOU between the Korean and Mexican ministries of culture will hopefully help to further expand bilateral cooperation across such creative industries.”



By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
jiae5853@korea.kr