President Park Geun-hye, currently on a state visit to Kenya, has suggested that Korea and Kenya "nurture a mutually beneficial partnership that will strengthen Korea-Kenya cooperation." She was writing in an open letter published in Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper on May 30, prior to her visit to the East African nation.

Explaining the many ways in which Korea and Kenya "have steadily developed ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964," the president said that she hopes that, "The two countries will continue to join forces to realize the shared vision of ushering in a future of mutual prosperity, going beyond the existing achievement of bilateral cooperation."

The president said that the "two governments will continue to nurture a mutually beneficial partnership" in which both countries "can learn and grow together by organically harmonizing Korea's experience with Kenya's potential." She said, "Kenya will be able to make an astonishing leap forward if Korea's experience and know-how are aptly shared," and added that, "Korea will become a reliable partner for Kenya's development."

Mentioning IT as "an important area of such cooperation," the president said that, "The Korean government's creative economy initiative, by which advanced science and technology is implanted across industries to create jobs and further develop the national economy, will contribute to the Kenyan government's efforts to achieve Vision 2030."

Saying that she's looking forward to the day that "Made in Kenya" products, manufactured through collaboration between Korean and Kenyan companies, will be sold beyond simply African markets and in markets around the world, the president said that she hopes her visit to Kenya will serve as a "new turning point for bilateral cooperation to realize these goals."

By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
icchang@korea.kr