Korea and Spain Deepen Economic and Human Exchanges... Commit to Strengthening Strategic Partnership

Yoon and Prime Minister Sanchez Hold Joint Press Conference After Korea-Spain Summit
Expand Mutual Investment in Future Strategic Industries by Companies of Both Countries...Continued Government Support
Expand Human Exchange Including Tourism and Cultural Cooperation
Strengthen Cooperation on International Issues Such as North Korea Nuclear Response and Ukraine Peace

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 18th, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a Korea-Spain summit with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and agreed to solidify the "strategic partnership" by deepening joint responses to economic, human exchange, and global issues.

President Yoon announced this during a joint press conference held after the Korea-Spain summit at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day.

President Yoon first said, "Although Korea and Spain are geographically located at opposite ends of the Eurasian continent and are far apart, the distance of cooperation between the two countries is closer than ever. Since my inauguration, I visited Madrid in June as my first overseas trip, and our two leaders met again at the UN General Assembly in New York in September and at the G20 summit in Bali in November. I am pleased to hold the first bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sanchez here in Seoul during his visit to Korea today."

The two countries agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, including mutual investment in companies, tourism cooperation, and expansion of human exchanges, as well as to closely coordinate on international issues such as North Korea’s nuclear threat and the Ukraine war.

President Yoon introduced, "In particular, we welcome the recent expansion of mutual investment cooperation between companies of both countries into future strategic industries, including electric vehicle batteries, solar and wind renewable energy, and agreed to continue providing necessary support at the government level."

He continued, "Korea and Spain are also strong countries in overseas construction orders. Korean and Spanish companies have steadily won joint construction projects in third countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East. Based on this experience, the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the export finance institutions of both countries is expected to further strengthen the foundation for joint entry of companies from both countries," he emphasized.

Regarding the expansion of human exchanges, he explained, "Our two leaders agreed that exchanges between the peoples of the two countries are the foundation for the development of bilateral relations, and agreed to continue providing necessary support so that human exchanges between the two countries can be further expanded in various fields such as tourism and cultural cooperation. In this regard, we shared the view that the Cervantes Cultural Center and the Spanish Tourism Office, scheduled to open in Seoul next year, will contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both countries."

They exchanged opinions on international issues such as North Korea’s serious provocations and support for Ukraine and agreed to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Spain.

President Yoon stated, "We strongly condemned North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches at an unprecedented frequency and intensity. Just this morning, they launched an ICBM. Prime Minister Sanchez and I agreed to closely cooperate to lead a united response from the international community," he emphasized.

Furthermore, he said, "We agreed that as the Ukraine war prolongs, international support will become even more important, and Korea and Spain, together with allied countries, will continue to provide necessary support for Ukraine’s peace and stability restoration, including postwar reconstruction," he conveyed.

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