Yoon "Expecting Korea-Czech Nuclear Alliance"... Piala "A Turning Point for Economic Cooperation"

Yoon: "An Opportunity to Develop Strategic Partnership Between the Two Countries"
$37 Million Invested Over 10 Years for R&D
Piala: "Hope for Cooperation in Innovative Technology R&D"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is applauding after a joint press conference between Korea and the Czech Republic with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala at the Czech government office in Prague on the 20th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol said on the 20th (local time), "I hope that South Korea and the Czech Republic, as strategic partners, will become a 'nuclear alliance' looking forward together for the next hundred years."

Prime Minister Petr Fiala also stated, "The construction of new nuclear power plants is an opportunity to dramatically advance the strategic relationship and economic cooperation between the two countries," adding, "The outlines of cooperation between the two countries are already emerging."

President Yoon said at a joint press conference immediately after the meeting with Prime Minister Fiala in Prague, Czech Republic, "Taking the participation of our companies in the Dukovany nuclear power plant project as an opportunity, we will institutionalize comprehensive nuclear cooperation that goes beyond nuclear power plant construction to joint research and development and human resource training."

President Yoon explained, "Both countries agreed that the Dukovany new nuclear power plant construction project, for which Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power was selected as the preferred negotiator, will be an important opportunity to significantly advance the strategic partnership between the two countries," and added, "We agreed to maintain close communication so that the Dukovany nuclear power plant project can become a model case of future-oriented cooperation between the two countries."

He continued, "The two countries will promote comprehensive economic cooperation encompassing industry, energy, and supply chains," and said, "The Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) signed between the two countries this time will further expand trade between the two countries, which has been setting record highs for four consecutive years, and promote mutual investment."

President Yoon emphasized, "Prime Minister Fiala and I agreed to expand mutually beneficial cooperation beyond manufacturing-centered economic cooperation to high value-added fields such as advanced technology, transportation, infrastructure, and future mobility," and "In particular, the two countries will strengthen cooperation in eco-friendly energy and advanced industries, including hydrogen, batteries, advanced robotics, and electric vehicles."

He added, "On the occasion of the visit to the Czech Republic, research institutes and universities of both countries will connect and promote scientific and technological cooperation in various fields including bio, aerospace, chemistry and advanced materials, digital technology, and nuclear power."

"I told Prime Minister Fiala that our government will invest $37 million over the next 10 years to promote joint research and development between the two countries in fields such as nuclear fuel technology, synthetic new drugs, and artificial intelligence," he said.

President Yoon added, "Through this, I hope that advanced science and technology cooperation will become a driving force supporting a new leap in the strategic partnership between South Korea and the Czech Republic."

President Yoon Suk-yeol listens to the remarks of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala during the Korea-Czech joint press conference held at the Czech government office in Prague on the 20th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

In the joint press conference, Prime Minister Fiala mentioned small modular reactors (SMR), hydrogen technology, and the aviation industry, saying, "We hope for public research cooperation in the fields of cutting-edge and innovative technology research and development."

Prime Minister Fiala said, "What makes such in-depth cooperation possible is that the two countries share many values such as democracy and a just world order," adding, "Because both countries have experienced invasions in history, they have a yearning for freedom and want to support and assist countries that have lost their freedom now."

Prime Minister Fiala also said, "I received an invitation from President Yoon to visit South Korea. I consider the invitation an honor."