[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Jang Je-won, the special envoy of President Yoon Seok-yeol who visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a condolence envoy on behalf of President Yoon, expressed condolences on the passing of UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 17th.
Jang Je-won, the chief secretary to the elected representative, is answering questions from reporters on the morning of the 2nd as he leaves the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by the Transition Committee Press Corps
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Special Envoy Jang attended the condolence ceremony for the late President Khalifa held at Al Mushriq Palace in the UAE on the 16th (local time) and expressed condolences to the new UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on behalf of President Yoon and the Korean government.
Jang, who served as the chief of staff to President-elect Yoon, led the condolence delegation and departed for the UAE on the 15th.
Special Envoy Jang highly evaluated the special strategic partnership established between Korea and the UAE during the late President Khalifa’s tenure. He also conveyed President Yoon’s intention to advance bilateral relations under the new leadership.
The Korean condolence delegation also delivered a congratulatory letter from President Yoon celebrating President Mohammed’s inauguration.
President Mohammed expressed gratitude to President Yoon and responded, “Korea is a very special country with a unique cooperative relationship with the UAE, and the development of relations with Korea is very important to the UAE.”
In response, Special Envoy Jang conveyed President Yoon’s invitation to visit Korea, emphasizing that President Yoon values trust and sincerity, and President Mohammed also expressed hope to visit Korea soon to meet President Yoon.
The new President Mohammed is the younger brother of the late President Khalifa. Since 2014, he has served as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and effectively acted as president, and was elected as the successor president on the 14th.
Before the condolence ceremony, Special Envoy Jang also met separately with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, to discuss bilateral relations.
Chairman Khaldoon emphasized developing bilateral relations into a sustainable, solid, and long-term partnership based on achievements in nuclear energy and defense cooperation.
In particular, he stated, “No country is free from nuclear energy,” and praised that “Korea and the UAE have developed bilateral relations through nuclear cooperation and have created a new global cooperation model,” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the condolence event, Special Envoy Jang also met with Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs, and exchanged views on continuing cooperation in defense and defense industry sectors.
Sending him, a close aide of President Yoon, as a special envoy is seen as reflecting the importance of the UAE, considered a key country in Korea’s Middle East diplomacy.
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