Yoon: "Han-Young, Comrades of Blood Alliance"... Sunak: "Will Further Strengthen Friendship"

Korea-UK Summit Opening Remarks
Yoon: "Nothing Impossible in Economic and Science Technology Cooperation"
Sunak: "Korean Companies Invest 20 Billion Pounds in UK...Proof of Trust"

During his state visit to the United Kingdom, President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 22nd (local time) defined the UK as a "blood alliance comrade" in the Korea-UK summit with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and expressed the intention to strengthen cooperation in various fields such as economy and science and technology.

President Yoon made these remarks during his opening statement at the summit held at 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister's residence, with Prime Minister Sunak in the afternoon. Earlier, when President Yoon arrived at the Prime Minister's residence and got out of the car, foreign reporters called out to him in Korean, saying "Annyeonghaseyo." President Yoon greeted Prime Minister Sunak and Mrs. Akshata Murty with a smile in English and shook hands.

Both leaders began their opening remarks without a script at the summit that day. Prime Minister Sunak first said, "I believe President Yoon's state visit to the UK reflects the deep relationship and friendship between the UK and Korea," adding, "Through the Downing Agreement that we will sign, we will further strengthen our relationship."

He continued, "We are already deeply cooperating in various fields such as defense industry, security, technology, and science," and emphasized, "Of course, there is already a lot of cooperation at the government level, but this state visit will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation at the private sector level, and the start of renegotiations to improve the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will further enhance private sector cooperation."

Prime Minister Sunak also stated, "Korean companies will invest about 20 billion pounds (32.6 trillion won) in the UK," and said, "This scale of investment is evidence of the trust Korean companies have in UK companies. In addition, many other cooperations will be strengthened, and I look forward to having many discussions with President Yoon during today's schedule."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In his opening remarks, President Yoon mentioned his impressions of visiting 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister's residence, and paying tribute by laying wreaths at the Korean War veterans' memorial in the UK Ministry of Defence and the Unknown Soldier's memorial in Westminster Abbey. He emphasized that the UK is a "blood alliance comrade" who fought together for Korea's freedom and urged to strengthen future cooperation.

President Yoon said, "Today, right here at 10 Downing Street, we are to sign the Downing Street Accord between Korea and the UK. Because the two countries are truly blood alliance comrades, I believe there is nothing we cannot achieve in economic cooperation and scientific and technological cooperation."

President Yoon added, "We will soon begin renegotiations to revise the FTA, which was declared earlier this morning. We expect to establish these economic cooperation aspects between the two countries as universal norms so that Korea and the UK can jointly demonstrate leadership in pursuing world peace and prosperity."

President Yoon will sign the "Downing Agreement" with Prime Minister Sunak, which includes upgrading bilateral relations to a "global strategic partnership" and strengthening cooperation in three major areas: defense and security, science and economy, and a sustainable future. The two leaders also declared the start of negotiations to improve the Korea-UK FTA and signed a "Strategic Cyber Partnership" in the field of cybersecurity.

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