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President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a walk with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the 28th at Buyongji Pond area in the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace, Jongno-gu, Seoul, as part of a friendly schedule.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a friendly meeting on the 28th at Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who was visiting South Korea as the first state guest.

According to the Blue House, on that day, President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee visited the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace as their first friendly engagement with President Mohammed.

The two leaders took a walk together around Buyongji, the central pond garden of the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace, and engaged in conversations on various topics including Korean culture.

President Mohammed made his first visit to South Korea since taking office in May 2022. This is also the first state visit to South Korea by a sitting UAE president. President Yoon and President Mohammed are scheduled to carry out friendly engagements, a dinner, an official welcoming ceremony, and a summit on the 28th and 29th.

On that day, the two leaders watched the 'Hakyeonhwadaemu (鶴蓮花臺舞),' a welcoming performance. Hakyeonhwadaemu is a court dance that combines the crane dance and the lotus platform dance, which have been passed down since before the Goryeo Dynasty.

The Blue House explained that this event was prepared considering the UAE's fondness for birds, to the extent that it has a national bird.

After watching the performance, the two leaders had a tea conversation in a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

After the tea conversation at Changdeokgung Palace, they moved to the Blue House for a friendly dinner. President Yoon welcomed President Mohammed as the first UAE leader to make a state visit and said that through this visit, the two countries should further develop their 'special strategic partnership.'

In response, President Mohammed expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by President Yoon and his wife and showed anticipation for the visit's schedule and outcomes.

Since the UAE is a country cooperating in various fields such as economy, energy, and defense industry, the Blue House plans to welcome President Mohammed with the highest honors.

When the UAE presidential aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) that day, four of our Air Force fighter jets escorted it. On the morning of the 29th, the official welcoming ceremony will also feature a congratulatory flight by the Air Force Black Eagles.

Additionally, about 100 members of the traditional honor guard and military band, around 500 personnel from the Ark unit, and approximately 130 children in the welcoming group will greet President Mohammed and his delegation.

When President Yoon and his wife made a state visit to the UAE in January last year, the UAE side also held a grand official welcoming ceremony with numerous horsemen and camel riders lined up.

At the summit on the 29th, the two countries will discuss cooperation plans in areas such as traditional energy and clean energy, peaceful nuclear energy, economy and investment, defense, and defense technology. The Blue House expects concrete outcomes that the citizens of both countries will feel and that will help improve their livelihoods.

President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the state banquet held at the Blue House main building on the 28th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]