His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-HamadAl-Sabah held official talks with visiting Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Lee Nak-yon at Bayan Palace on Wednesday.
Bilateral ties and ways of strengthening them on all levels were discussed during the talks, as well as recent regional and international issues of common interest.
His Highness the Premier expressed satisfaction at the great development of bilateral relations in recent years, especially on political and economic levels, stressing the two nations’ keenness to enhance prospects of cooperation in the fields of health, transportation, housing, energy and smart technology.
His Highness said the Republic of Korea and Korean companies that implemented projects in Kuwait between 2012 and 2019 at a cost of about USD 30 billion, are important partners to the State of Kuwait, noting that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached USD 14 billion this year.
He welcomed the agreement of the Korean authorities to approve establishing direct flights between the two countries, as well as the establishment of a Kuwaiti-Korean committee on Kuwait 2035 vision, as well as support efforts aimed at implementing Kuwait’s development plans and projects related to the vision.
He also expressed Kuwait’s support for the Korean leadership to achieve stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula through the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, pointing out to the South Korean support for Kuwait’s efforts led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.Following the meeting, the two sides signed several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, including the following:
First: A Cooperation Agreement in the field of culture and arts between the Government of the State of Kuwait and the Government of the Republic of Korea.
Second: A MoU for cooperation between Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwaiti Diplomatic Institute and Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
Third: A MoU between the Government of the State of Kuwait represented by the Direct Investment Promotion Authority and the Government of the Republic of Korea represented by Incheon Free Economic Zone.
Forth: A MoU on Investment Promotion between the Government of Kuwait and the Korean Government.
Fifth: A letter of intent between Kuwait Ministry of Health and the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Sixth: MoU in the field of mutual assistance and cooperation on customs issues between the Government of Kuwait and the Republic of Korea.
Seventh: A MoU on bilateral cooperation in preventing and combating corruption between the government of Kuwait and the Republic of Korea.
Eighth: A MoU in the field of guard and protection between the Amiri Guard and the Korean Presidential Security Service. The talks were attended, on behalf of the Kuwaiti side, by Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh, Undersecretary at His Highness the Prime Minister Diwan Sheikha Etimad Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Capital Governor Sheikh Talal Khaled Al- Ahmed Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) Sheikh Dr. Mishaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Kuwaiti Ambassador to South Korea Bader Al-Awadhi, in addition to a number of high ranking officials.
On behalf of the Korean side, the delegation accompanying the Korean Prime Minister attended the official talks.
