President Lee Jae Myung on Nov. 20 gives a speech on the topic "Opening a Bright Future Together" at Cairo University in the Egyptian capital.
By Kim Hyelin
Photos = Yonhap News
President Lee Jae Myung, on an official visit to Egypt, on Nov. 20 announced his "SHINE" initiative in a speech at Cairo University in the Egyptian capital, describing a strategy of future cooperation between Korea and the Middle East.
With SHINE standing for Stability, Harmony, Innovation, Network and Education, he was quoted by Korean media like Yonhap News as saying, "Based on the SHINE Initiative, which covers the three areas of peace, prosperity, and culture, the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula will open a future of mutual growth."
President Lee mentioned the 1950-53 Korean War and the families that the conflict separated, saying, "Koreans, who endured the sorrow of separated families due to war, deeply empathize with the tears of those threatened by conflict," adding, "Through joint engagement, we will build peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, based on stability and harmony."
Turning to the crisis in Gaza, he pledged an additional USD 10 million in humanitarian aid to the Egyptian Red Crescent, adding, "We have also consistently supported the two-state solution, worked for constructive solutions to the Israel-Palestine issue, and provided humanitarian aid to alleviate food shortages in conflict zones."
"Through shared innovation, we will leap toward a future of shared prosperity," President Lee said. "While solidifying cooperation in energy and construction, we will also expand our collaboration to future innovation fields such as artificial intelligence and hydrogen."
"The Republic of Korea's rapid, compressed growth -- known as the Miracle on the Han River -- would not have been possible without the support of the Middle East. Now, it is Korea’s turn to contribute to the Miracle of the Nile."
The president also proposed diversifying exchanges between universities including Cairo University and raising institutional support such as expanding scholarships for master's students in information and communications technology and reinforcing training so that more Egyptians can study in Korea. He also said he hoped for cooperation between the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Korea.
"This year marks the meaningful 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Egypt," he said. "In just one generation, our countries have established a comprehensive cooperative partnership."
President Lee also mentioned what Korea and Egypt have in common like their histories of foreign invasions, independence movements and resolute actions for peace by their previous leaders like Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and President Kim Dae-jung.
kimhyelin211@korea.kr