LOC14:35
11:35 GMT
TOKYO, Dec 9 (KUNA) -- South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Mohammad Al-Mazrouei on Tuesday discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and seek joint development in the arms industry, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The defense chiefs met in Seoul for the ministerial Joint Higher Military Committee meeting, less than a month after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and UAE President Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in the artificial intelligence (AI), defense industry and energy sectors in their summit talks in Abu Dhabi, it said, citing Seoul's Defense Ministry.
During Tuesday's meeting, Ahn noted that defense and arms industry cooperation has played a pivotal role in driving their bilateral ties, while, in response, the UAE defense chief said such cooperation will become the foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship, according to the ministry.
In the defense sector, the ministers agreed to expand cooperation in high-tech areas, such as cyber affairs, space and AI and factor in personnel exchanges, military education and combined drills for mid- to long-term planning.
In the arms industry, they agreed to establish a cooperative model that seeks the joint development and export of weapons systems, the ministry said. (end)
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