RIYADH, 26 March 2007 — South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun announced here yesterday that he would personally make necessary efforts to establish a free trade zone between South Korea and Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC). “I will implement the free trade agreement between Korea and GCC countries because it is a basis for widening economic cooperation,” he said. “If this agreement is signed, I believe it will be useful for both sides.” He added that discussions would begin this year.
The South Korean leader visited the Shoura Council yesterday and spoke to the members. He was accompanied by several ministers of states in addition to South Korean journalists.
President Roh said that he would present his ideas for strengthening economic cooperation and cultural understanding between South Korea and Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. He began by saying: “It gives me great honor to speak to you today in the land where Islam began and became the religion of 1.3 billion people all over the world.”
He pointed out that South Korea could make valuable contributions to the region’s development and said he had been impressed by efforts in the Middle East to lessen dependency on petrochemical industries and develop other industries. Another of his ideas was to boost economic and cultural cooperation in the region, including cultural exchange programs between South Korea and Middle Eastern countries. “I will take the initiative in cultural exchange programs in which governments, companies, the media, the academic world and religious bodies can participate,” he said.
The aim of such programs, according to President Roh, is to “deepen cultural understanding between the two nations.” His final idea was to strengthen the Korean-Middle East Symposium which is held every year.
