Korea, Colombia to boost partnership in value-added sectors Apr 20, 2015

Korea, Colombia to boost partnership in value-added sectors
Apr 20, 2015

President Park Geun-hye and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos have said in a joint statement that, "We intend to strengthen our bilateral partnership in high value-added industries."

President Park and Colombian President Santos took part in a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Bogota after holding a bilateral summit there on April 17.

"During this visit, the two nations signed 18 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in the fields of energy, security, health, financial assistance and infrastructure construction, among others. This will provide a foundation to diversify bilateral cooperation, which I think is very meaningful," said President Park.

On April 17, President Park Geun-hye (center, left) meets with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at the Presidential Palace in Bogota to discuss bilateral issues.


"We also agreed to reinforce bilateral cooperation on national defense and the defense industry, based on a previous MOU, which will have important meaning for the development of our bilateral relationship," said President Park. "With such a foundation, many great Korean enterprises will become essential partners in Colombia's national development."

"The free trade agreement between Korea and Colombia, which was reached in June 2012, is Colombia's first FTA with an Asian country. I hope that the FTA will take effect quickly, after the necessary in-country review processes," said President Park. "In addition, a bilateral MOU in electronic commerce and electronic trade was signed. This will complement the FTA and more effectively overcome geographical barriers, which will contribute to the expansion of bilateral trade."

President Park Geun-hye (third from left) holds a summit with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. President Park said at the summit, "The free trade agreement between Korea and Colombia is Colombia's first FTA with an Asian country. I hope that the FTA will take effect quickly."


In response, President Santos said, "The Korea-Colombia FTA will bring great benefits to Colombia's agricultural sector. Korea imports a lot of agriculture for its food and Colombia can supply a sufficient amount of those needs."

"The two nations also agreed on the importance of cooperating on education. Korea is a model country that has a successful, world-class education system," said President Santos. "Colombia's education minister asked his Korean counterpart for technological cooperation on education. As of today, 10 Korean schools are included in the list of the world's top 500 universities."

After their bilateral summit, President Park Geun-hye (left) and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos hold a joint press conference. President Park said, "Korea and Colombia, as Pacific Rim partners in the 21st century, have a lot on which to cooperate concerning regional and global issues."


In addition, President Park said, "We have reaffirmed that Korea and Colombia, as partners in the Pacific Rim Era of the 21st century, have a lot to cooperate on, dealing with regional and global issues. We also agreed to continually send a firm, unified message that North Korea's nuclear armament will never be acceptable."

By Wi Tack-whan, Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
whan23@korea.kr