Yoon Holds Talks with Slovak Prime Minister in Yongsan
"Expecting Mutual Cooperation in Energy and Supply Chains"
Prime Minister Pico: "Seeking Cooperation in Nuclear Power and Trade"
Trade and Investment Promotion Framework MOU Signed
President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico ahead of the expanded Korea-Slovakia summit held at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 30th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol held talks with Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, who is visiting Korea on the 30th, and said, "The two countries will create a new 30 years together as strategic partners."
Prime Minister Fico emphasized, "We want to offer favorable economic conditions to Korean companies" and expressed his desire to discuss cooperation with Korea in trade and economic sectors, including nuclear energy.
In his opening remarks during the expanded talks with Prime Minister Fico at the expanded conference room of the Yongsan Presidential Office on the morning of the same day, President Yoon said, "I hope today's talks will serve as an opportunity to elevate mutually beneficial cooperation in comprehensive areas such as trade, investment, energy, and supply chains between the two countries to a new level."
President Yoon explained, "Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1993, Korea and Slovakia have developed a friendly cooperative relationship in various fields including politics and economy over the past 30 years. Korea is ready to further strengthen cooperation with Slovakia, a value-sharing country and an important partner in Europe amid the global complex crisis."
He continued, "In this regard, I consider it very meaningful that the two countries have established a strategic partnership based on past cooperative experiences today," emphasizing, "This will be a new milestone in the history of cooperation between the two countries and an important foundation for future cooperation."
President Yoon Suk-yeol and Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, are holding an expanded Korea-Slovakia summit at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 30th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Prime Minister Fico responded, "Because Korea holds a truly important position in the region, after my reappointment as Prime Minister, Korea is the first country in the Indo-Pacific region I am visiting," adding, "As Korea is developing at an unprecedented pace, I hope our bilateral relations will develop accordingly."
Prime Minister Fico expressed gratitude for President Yoon's positive response in the field of nuclear cooperation, saying, "I hope we can continue deeper discussions going forward."
He explained, "The reason I visited Korea this time is to discuss cooperation in trade, economic investment, including nuclear energy," and added, "Many Korean companies want to make additional investments in Slovakia. We want to provide them with a good environment, especially favorable economic conditions, which is why our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy accompanied me this time."
Prime Minister Fico added, "There are other areas as well," citing "new technologies, green technology sectors, science and technology, research and development (R&D), innovation, and human exchanges as examples. Slovakia, as a member of the European Union (EU) and the Eurozone (20 countries using the Euro), can share with you many strategic documents and situations at the EU level."
At the talks, Korea was represented by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun, National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik, Special Advisor for Foreign and Security Affairs Jang Ho-jin, and First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo.
On the Slovak side, Marek Repovsky, Ambassador of Slovakia to Korea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Sakova, and Zoltan Harsanyi, Director of the Nuclear Research Institute, were present.
After the talks, a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was held in the Presidential Office reception room attended by President Yoon and Prime Minister Fico.
On the day, the two countries signed the 'Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF)' MOU and the 'Comprehensive Energy Cooperation' MOU.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
