Yoon and Tamin Summit

President Yoon, who visited Qatar at the invitation of King Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a summit meeting with Tamim at Amiri Diwan, the Royal Palace of Qatar, on October 25. As the vehicle carrying Yoon entered the palace, a cavalry unit and a camel unit escorted the vehicle and guided it. After receiving an inspection by the honor guard and King Tamim, who was welcomed in the central hall, they entered the summit hall. They discussed various ways to further enhance the relationship between the two countries, which has steadily developed centered on the LNG and construction sectors since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974. Yoon said he thought it was meaningful to be the first Korean president to pay a state visit to Qatar as the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries approaches next year. They said that they would look back on the achievements of diplomatic relations over the past 50 years and prepare together for the next 50 years of common prosperity, and that Korea would be a strong partner of the ‘Qatar National Vision 2030’.

They welcomed the upgrading of the relationship between the two countries to a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' through this meeting and agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation in the defense industry and AI including fostering industry experts, sharing data, creating value and establishing norms. They decided to expand into operations and maintenance, including a $3.9 billion contract to build 17 LNG carriers signed between HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and state-run Qatar Energy. In addition, they agreed to expand cooperation in infrastructure, investment, agriculture, shipping, culture, human exchanges, and health. King Tamim expressed hope for cooperation, saying that Qatar needs Korea's world-class technology and systems in port and airport operation, agricultural development for food, construction of a data service center, and medical services. Yoon congratulated Qatar on successfully hosting the Doha International Horticultural Expo following last year's World Cup, and said that Korea had also set up a Korean pavilion. A total of five documents were signed immediately after the meeting. After the summit, Korean government officials and Korean companies attended a luncheon hosted by Tamim. Yoon proposed to Tamim to visit Korea, and Tamim accepted to visit Korea next year.

Yoon and Mohammed Summit

Yoon met with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Yamama Palace in Riyadh on October 22 and agreed to deepen and develop the future-oriented strategic partnership between the two countries. When the vehicle carrying the Yoon couple entered the palace, a cavalry unit escorted them into the garden, and the Yoon couple were welcomed by Mohammed. Yoon said that this year is a meaningful year as it marks the 50th anniversary of our company entering Saudi Arabia, and that he hopes to further deepen the relationship between the two countries through this visit. Mohammed said that he would like to further develop substantive cooperation in various fields with Korea, a ‘Vision 2030’ partner country, and that he looks forward to frequent communication and cooperation with Yoon to this end. They signed an MOU setting out the details of the “Strategic Partnership Committee”. After Mohammed's visit to Korea in November last year, the groundbreaking ceremony for the S-Oil Shaheen project was held (March 23), the creation of a $160 million Korea-Saudi joint fund for venture investment (June 23), and a global business center to support Korean small and medium-sized businesses entering Saudi Arabia. Practical results are continuing, including the opening of Riyadh (the occasion of this trip). Yoon evaluated Hyundai Engineering & Construction's winning of the 'Amiral Project' as a great achievement and requested the Saudi government's interest in allowing more Korean companies to participate in mega projects such as Neom, Qiddiya, and Red Sea.

Yoon said that in the post-oil era, Korea is the optimal partner for Saudi Arabia, and it is encouraging that the relationship between the two countries is developing from traditional fields such as energy and construction into a high-tech industrial partnership that produces automobiles and ships together, and cooperation in the fields of tourism and cultural exchange is also encouraging. In addition, they suggested that the two countries work together in the fields of tourism, smart farms, patents, shipping, marine fisheries, statistics, cyber security, and food and drug regulations. At the luncheon, they had friendly talks on society, culture and tourism of the two countries. After lunch, they signed a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, an MOU establishing the Korea-Saudi Strategic Partnership Committee, a hydrogen oasis cooperation initiative, and cooperation in statistics, food, and medical supplies.