The Special Strategic Partnership meeting held in Seoul between the UAE and South Korea was a historic moment in creating the future through strategic thought and soft power, in terms of its timing, content and mechanisms.
The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the Korean capital, Seoul, is a response to an invitation from Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea, who expressed, in his latest visit to Abu Dhabi, his desire to advance the relations between the two countries to the Special Strategic Partnership, which is the first between South Korea and a Middle Eastern country.
The timing of the meeting coincides with the positive developments witnessed by the Korean Peninsula, which was mentioned in a statement issued from the summit that highlighted the necessity of ending the region’s tensions, and continuing to focus on promoting dialogue and strengthening stability, to ensure peace in the region, as stated by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed.
The meeting’s timing and meaning behind it have made it part of international efforts to end the crisis in the Korean Peninsula, which is being led by those meeting in Hanoi and officials in Seoul. Both summits represent these efforts, outside those reported by the media.
The special strategic partnership between Abu Dhabi and Seoul is the outcome of their confidence and future foresight, as the relations between the UAE and South Korea date back to 1980, in line with the efforts of the Emirati leadership to create balanced relations with friendly countries that share its vision, which focus on development and building the future around the world and is part of the UAE’s strategic relations with Asian countries, to enable it to access markets for Emirati exports and strengthen the UAE’s position as a gateway to the Middle East and North Africa. The relationship between Abu Dhabi and Seoul was transformed in 2009, from the traditional relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Commercial, industrial and technological projects, including a peaceful nuclear power project launched by the UAE and South Korean, as well as major energy projects, crowned an agreement signed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, to launch international projects to store oil in the UAE.
Sheikh Mohamed’s latest visit is his fifth to South Korea. He previously visited the country in 2006, 2012 and 2014, to reinforce the relations between the two countries that rose to the special strategic partnership, including in the areas of trade, investment, construction, infrastructure, energy, defence and military industries, agriculture, medicine and health, science, technology and space technologies.
Moon conducted a series of visits that confirmed the confidence of the strategic partnership between the two countries, to achieve their common interests, align their stances on regional causes, and achieve sustainable development, whose outcomes are shared by both countries and supported their innovation and keenness to create the future, based on moderation and tolerance.
The Special Strategic Partnership that has been strengthened during the summit represents the policy of the UAE’s leadership of ongoing development and long-term foresight, to spread the values of international coexistence through the message of peace and tolerance, and establish and build, through it its pioneering role, the future of humanity.
Photo from WAM
SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) – February 27, 2019: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (back L) and Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (back R), witness an MOU signing ceremony at the Blue House. Seen signing on behalf of the UAE is HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, Chairman of Masdar and CEO of ADNOC Group (L) and a Korean counterpart (R).
( Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs )
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