Khalifa holds talks with S Korean president

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea on Wednesday afternoon at Al Rawda Palace. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, were also present. Sheikh Khalifa welcomed the South Korean President, noting the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries in the past. During the meeting, he also stressed the desire of the UAE to expand its co-operation with the Korean side, especially in the economic and technological fields. The President said that relations between the UAE and Korea were based on mutual understanding and always sought further development, through the implementation of bilateral agreements and through the carrying out of strategic development projects, as well as through increasing the volume of bilateral investment. For his part, the S.Korean President praised the great achievements of the UAE under the wise leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa, which, he said, had enabled the country to enjoy a prestigious position on both regional and international levels. He also expressed his happiness at visiting the UAE and at meeting the UAE President, noting that his visit had been undertaken within the context of the desire of the leadership and governments of both countries to develop co-operation in various fields. During their talks, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, existing co-operation and ways of strengthening it and the latest international developments. The S.Korean President conferred on Sheikh Khalifa the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest decoration awarded by the South Korean government to presidents and heads of state. He also conferred on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan the Gunghwa Order, presented to Crown Princes and Heads of Government. Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed both thanked President Lee for the honours conferred upon them, expressing their hope that there would be further development in relations between the two countries in various fields. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region, Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, Lt. General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and Sheikh Omar Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, in addition to a number of other sheikhs, ministers and senior officials. Also present were the UAE Ambassador to South Korea, and the South Korean Ambassador to the UAE along with the delegation accompanying the Korean President.