Minister Kang Kyung-hwa to Visit Middle East from 4th to 6th... Speech at 'Manama Dialogue' and Meeting with UAE (Summary)

Discussion on Cooperation in Various Fields Including Quarantine, Defense, Defense Industry, and Science and Technology with the UAE, a 'Special Strategic Partnership'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will visit Bahrain and the UAE from the 4th to the 6th to attend the Manama Dialogue and hold talks with the UAE Foreign Minister. Minister Kang's visit to the Middle East is expected to serve as an opportunity to gauge the local atmosphere amid the turbulent Middle East situation ahead of the inauguration of the new U.S. administration.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 1st, Minister Kang was invited as a speaker to the 16th Manama Dialogue jointly hosted by the Bahrain government and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on the 4th, where she is scheduled to deliver a speech on the theme of "Global Governance under the COVID-19 Situation."

Taking advantage of her attendance at the Manama Dialogue, Minister Kang plans to hold talks with high-level officials, including foreign ministers of Middle Eastern countries. The Manama Dialogue, along with Asia's Shangri-La Dialogue and Europe's Munich Security Conference, is a major international security forum that has been attended since 2004 by key figures in diplomacy and defense from the Middle East, the U.S., and Europe. It is known that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu will not attend this dialogue. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "Bilateral talks are mainly being coordinated with Middle Eastern countries."

Subsequently, on the 5th, Minister Kang will visit the UAE to hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then visit the Dubai EXPO site scheduled for next year to inspect the Korean Pavilion under construction, and hold talks with Minister of International Cooperation and Dubai EXPO Chairperson Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "President Moon Jae-in's visit was planned for March to coincide with the Barakah nuclear power plant operation ceremony but was canceled due to COVID-19. This visit aims to revitalize high-level exchanges with the UAE, a special strategic partner." The Korean government plans to discuss cooperation with the UAE in areas including nuclear power, food, quarantine, defense, defense industry, and science and technology, and support Korean companies in securing contracts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.