Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (left) and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pose for a photo prior to the Korea-Thailand summit in Bangkok on Oct. 11.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn held summit talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Oct. 11 to discuss how to boost bilateral cooperation in the sectors of trade, investment, infrastructure, the defense industry, education and people-to-people exchanges.
Prime Minister Hwang asked his counterpart to take an interest in solving difficulties faced by Korean enterprises operating in Thailand. In order to boost cooperation among both countries' firms, the Thai prime minister said that he will help to remove any difficulties faced by Korean firms.
Prime Minister Hwang highly valued their bilateral cooperation and said that it has been recently expanding into wider areas of economic cooperation, such as infrastructure, the defense industry, science and technology. He called for the Thai prime minister to cooperate so that more Korean firms could take part in infrastructure construction projects in Thailand, such as water management, railroad and satellite projects.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that he hopes the mutually beneficial cooperation between Korea and Thailand can help his country achieve more advancement, while emphasizing the importance of bilateral cooperation.
In regard to North Korean nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Hwang told his counterpart that North Korea has been concentrating on developing nuclear weapons while ignoring the livelihood of its people, as seen from its recent fifth nuclear test. He also urged that the international community consider strengthening sanctions in all sectors and applying all sorts of pressure.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that Thailand will continue to implement all U.N. Security Council resolutions. He reaffirmed Bangkok’s firm willingness to cooperate with Seoul in order to reach a speedy resolution of the North Korean nuclear weapons issues, and for the goal of peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (center) delivers a speech about cooperation measures across Asia at the second Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Bangkok on Oct. 10.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn pose for a photo during their meeting in Bangkok on Oct. 10.
Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Hwang attended the second Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) on Oct. 10. The prime minister discussed cooperation measures to help implement the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across East Asia under the theme of “One Asia, Diverse Strengths.” He also held a series of summit meetings with leaders ACD member countries.
In meetings with leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait and Myanmar, the prime minister shared his views on measures to boost bilateral cooperation with Korea and to cooperate on responses to the North Korean nuclear weapons issue.
In the Korea-Cambodia summit, Prime Minister Hwang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to make concerted efforts so that bilateral relations, which will mark their 20th anniversary next year since their reestablishment, can be advanced up a notch. Prime Minister Hwang called for his Cambodian counterpart to take an interest in and to support a swift conclusion to an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his appreciation for Korea’s contribution to Cambodia’s economic development through various development projects. Prime Minister Hwang told the Cambodian prime minister that Korea will continue to support Cambodia’s national development plans.
In a meeting with Kuwait's Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Hwang asked the Kuwaiti leader to take an interest in and to support bilateral cooperation between Korea and Kuwait, so that they can achieve sustainable development together.
Prime Minister Hwang asked the Kuwaiti leader to take an interest in and to support Korea’s ongoing cooperation projects in Kuwait, such as a desalination plant and an oil refinery, and new projects for which Korean companies have already received orders. The Korean prime minister further hoped that bilateral cooperation could help make Korea's energy supply more stable.
The emir of Kuwait told Prime Minister Hwang that Korean firms have the Kuwaiti government’s trust, and that he hopes that in the future more Korean firms will be able to contribute to Kuwait's national development.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (left) holds a meeting with Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Oct. 10 in Bangkok.
Myanmar's First Vice President Myint Swe (left) and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn pose for a photo prior to the Korea-Myanmar summit in Bangkok on Oct. 10.
While meeting with First Vice President of Myanmar Myint Swe, Prime Minister Hwang celebrated the launch of a new government in Myanmar, which was inaugurated this past March. He said that he hopes that Myanmar swiftly achieves national development and social integration.
Vice President Myint Swe expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Hwang. The vice president said that Korea has been contributing to Myanmar’s national development, while mentioning Korea’s development cooperation programs.
Prime Minister Hwang explained Seoul’s efforts and policy direction toward the goal of resolving the North Korean nuclear weapons issue to his counterpart from Myanmar as well as to leaders from the two countries, and asked for cooperation. The leaders all said that they are well aware of the South Korean government’s standpoint and expressed their support for Seoul's policies.
On the same day, Prime Minister Hwang visited a middle school in Sarawittaya, Thailand, that includes the Korean language as part of its curriculum. At the school, he met Thai Minister of Education Dapong Rattanasuwan to talk about the current situation of the Korean language in Thailand, and inspected a classroom.
The prime minister was welcomed by the students, who performed traditional dances from both countries. He chatted with students and teachers there, and delivered words of encouragement.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn visits a middle school in Sarawittaya, Thailand, on Oct. 10 and delivers words of encouragement.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (center) visits a middle school in Sarawittaya, Thailand, on Oct. 10.
By Wi Tack-whan, Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Prime Minister’s Office
whan23@korea.kr