President Lee Jae Myung on Aug. 12 received credentials from four newly appointed foreign ambassadors at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul: (clockwise from upper left) Vanda Maria Dias Stelzer Sequeira from Portugal; Jamal Abdulla Mohamed Bin Abdulwahab Al Suwaidi from the United Arab Emirates; Michelle Steel from the U.S.; and Sean Hoy from Ireland. (Cheong Wa Dae)

By Margareth Theresia

President Lee Jae Myung on Aug. 12 in a ceremony received the credentials of the newly appointed ambassadors from Portugal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), U.S. and Ireland at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.

This formal procedure has a new ambassador present the credentials issued by his or her head of state to the chief executive of the country where the diplomat will serve.

This was the fifth ceremony of its kind under the Lee administration.

After the event, President Lee held separate meetings with each of the four diplomats and congratulated them on their appointments. He urged them to actively play a bridge role to raise bilateral symbiotic cooperation in sectors through close communication and strong trust amid rapid changes in global circumstances.

First, Portuguese Ambassador Vanda Maria Dias Stelzer Sequeira said bilateral exchanges of people and businesses have grown this year, which marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, but noted room for further development in high-level exchanges. She pledged to strengthen practical cooperation in a range of sectors while at her post.

UAE Ambassador Jamal Abdulla Mohamed Bin Abdulwahab Al Suwaidi called President Lee's state visit to the Arab country in November last year a turning point in achieving a leap forward in bilateral ties. The diplomat pledged to do his best to develop their special strategic partnership in a future-oriented manner including preparation to ensure success in UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's reciprocal trip to Korea.

U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel said she will hold broad communication with the Korean government and public and promote bilateral understanding and friendly cooperation. President Lee said he expects Ambassador Steel, with her deep understanding of Korean culture and society, to serve as a strong bridge in strengthening the bilateral alliance.

Steel is the first Korean American woman and first former member of the U.S House of Representatives to hold the job and just the second ethnic Korean to do so after Sung Kim, who served from 2011-14.

Irish Ambassador Sean Hoy pledged to expand mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors based on the strong potential for bilateral collaboration. He added that he hopes Ireland, a guest country invited to the G20 group of economies and the rotating president of the European Union in the second half of this year, will maintain close communication with Korea.

margareth@korea.kr