South Korea hails ties with Kuwait

SEOUL, Jan 28 (KUNA) -- South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday lauded close cooperation with the State of Kuwait, especially in the fields of energy and construction.
This came in a statement by the ministry on the meeting between Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and former Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah who is on a visit to Korea to attend, as a keynote Speaker, the Korean-GCC Business Partnership Day to take place tomorrow.
The meeting was attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to South Korea Jassem Al-Bedaiwi.
South Korea is the largest importer of Kuwaiti crude oil, while Kuwait is South Korea's second-largest supplier of oil and liquefied petroleum gas as well as its third-largest overseas construction market, the ministry said.
The two countries have solidified their friendly and cooperative ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, it added.
South Korea and Kuwait have been further stepping up their close cooperation in the fields of energy and construction, while working to diversify the fields of cooperation to include healthcare and medical service, ICT, transportation and education, it added.
The State-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) had recently signed a long term crude oil supply contract with SK Group, a deal that would extend its strategic alliance with the South Korea-based conglomerate. (end) mt