Yoon Returns Home After State Visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Adoption of Joint Statement in Saudi Arabia After 43 Years
Elevation of Korea-Qatar Relations During Qatar Visit

President Yoon Suk-yeol departed for home on the 25th (local time) after completing his state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

President Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, left in the afternoon from Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, aboard Air Force One, the presidential aircraft.

Dressed in a dark navy suit with a purple tie, President Yoon and Mrs. Kim, wearing a black suit with a white dress shirt and carrying a handbag, entered the international airport terminal accompanied by Qatar's Minister of Al Subai Autonomous Administration and Al Hamar, the Ambassador of Qatar to Korea, among other Qatari farewell officials.

Korea's side was also represented by Ambassador Lee Junho to Qatar, Korean Association President Lim Il-chang, and Chairman Choi Seok-woong of the Korean Business Council.

President Yoon and Mrs. Kim shook hands with each of them before boarding Air Force One.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During President Yoon's visit, contracts and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth approximately $15.6 billion (about 21.1 trillion KRW) were signed in Saudi Arabia, and about $4.6 billion (6.2 trillion KRW) in Qatar. Combined, the total amounts to $20.2 billion (27.3 trillion KRW).

At the summit with Saudi Arabia on the 24th, President Yoon and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud adopted a joint statement between the two countries for the first time in 43 years and agreed to pursue large-scale defense cooperation.

On the same day, Crown Prince bin Salman personally drove President Yoon for 15 minutes in the front passenger seat of a car to the venue where the Future Investment Initiative Forum (FII) was held.

Following Saudi Arabia, President Yoon visited Qatar and, during the summit with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the 25th, agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership."

Additionally, a single contract for the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers worth $3.9 billion (5.2 trillion KRW), the largest ever, was signed.

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