JEDDAH: South Korea’s relations with Saudi Arabia continue to expand at all levels including in the fields of economy, trade, construction and culture.
“Our bilateral ties, especially in education and business, are strengthening continuously,” said South Korean Consul General Han Dal-jun speaking at the country’s National Day reception at the InterContinental Hotel on Saturday. The day was held to mark the 4,341st anniversary of the foundation of Korea.
Chief guest was Saleh Abdullatif of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah region office. A large number of officials, diplomats, businessmen and members of the South Korean community attended the event.
“Saudi Arabia and South Korea share common interests in regional and global issues including environment and anti-terrorism. Both the Kingdom and South Korea are important members of the G20, which deals with global economic issues including the global financial crisis and climate change,” said Dal-jun. “Korea looks forward to working closely with the Kingdom in the G20 process,” he added.
The consul general said bilateral relations in education started cementing further following a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in 2007.
Eighty Saudi students are pursuing studies in South Korean universities and some South Korean students are studying at universities in the Kingdom, including the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
Dal-jun recalled that since the establishment of the Korea-Arab Society in 2008, mutual awareness and understanding of cultures and traditions of the Arab world and Korea has been growing.
“The society has conducted many programs including art shows, forums, film festivals and traditional cultural programs in South Korea as well as in the Kingdom and elsewhere in the Arab world,” he said.
