By Margareth Theresia

President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee on Oct. 21 will depart for six days of state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the first time for a Korean head of state to visit either of the two Arab countries.

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo on the afternoon of Oct. 19 released the president's official schedule to a news briefing at the Office of the President in Seoul.

President Yoon on Oct. 21 will first arrive in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a summit and luncheon the next day with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. That evening, he will attend a bilateral investment forum and meet entrepreneurs both countries.

On Oct. 23, President Yoon will deliver a lecture at King Saud University in Riyadh and attend a future technology partnership forum at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in the village of Thuwal.

The following day, President Yoon will be the guest of honor at the Future Investment Initiative, a global forum nicknamed "Davos in the desert." There, he will describe Korea's strengths as an attractive economic and investment partner and discuss his country's cooperation with the Middle East.

Moving to Doha, Qatar on Oct. 24, President Yoon from the next day will attend a series of events like a summit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and a bilateral business forum.

To conclude his state visit, President Yoon the same day will visit Education City in Al Rayyan before flying home.

"Saudi Arabia and Qatar are our major trading partners in the Middle Eastern region and key players in politics and economy there, so friendly cooperation with both of them is crucial to our economy and national security," Deputy Adviser Kim said. "These trips will reinforce our cooperative ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar and search for new areas of collaboration."

margareth@korea.kr
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