"Trends" Participates in a symposium on South Korea’s policy towards the Middle East
Abu Dhabi, July 4 / WAM / A research symposium organized in the Korean National Assembly called for the adoption of a realistic foreign policy towards the Middle East region, based on the national interest of South Korea and responding to the rapid shifts in the region.
The symposium held in the Fifth Meetings Hall in the building of the National Assembly offices, under the auspices and support of the Trends Research and Consulting Office in Korea, dealt with the directions of the policy of the new Korean President’s management policy, “Lee Jay Meong” towards the Middle East.
The symposium was organized in cooperation with Representative Hong Ki-Won, the Korea Association-the Arab World, and the Center for Middle East and Islam Studies at the Asian Research Institute at the University of Korea, in which the participants stressed the importance of shift from the traditional view of the region as an energy source or as a market only, to a strategic partnership based on mutual understanding and common interests.
Kim Zhang-Community, Secretary-General of the Korea-Arab World Association, noted that the complexities of the regional scene require Korea to follow a balanced diplomatic approach that reflects its advanced global position.
For his part, Representative Hong Ki-Won stressed that the Middle East did not obtain what it deserves in Korean politics, adding that this symposium represents an opportunity to reassess this trend, especially with the start of the president’s administration’s mandate.
Lee Jin-Han, director of the Asian Research Institute, stressed the importance of launching emergency intellectual initiatives to keep pace with the challenges in the Middle East, with the aim of helping decision makers to develop a more effective policy.
In turn, former Ambassador Yoon Kang-Hyun described the Middle East as a vital axis linking three continents, with great executive and economic capabilities, calling for an independent diplomacy formulation towards each region, and transgressing formal agreements towards actual cooperation, appointing private envoys to priority areas, and promoting popular and cultural exchange.
For his part, Dr. Lee Kuan-Hyung, chief researcher at the KIEP Institute, pointed to the need to limit dependence on the energy sector, and suggested expanding cooperation to new sectors, in addition to accelerating the ratification of the free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, supporting the involvement of Korea in the corridor of India-the Middle East-Europe (IMEC), and the call to hold a Korean-Middle East.
A number of ambassadors and experts participated in the discussions, including what Young-Sam, the former ambassador to Israel, Park John-Young, the former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Kim Duk-Il, director of the Political Economy Department at the University of Korea, and Kim Jong-Redu, director of the Trends Research and Consulting Office in Korea.
The symposium recommended strengthening official development aid programs (ODA), developing confidence -based diplomacy, and establishing a specialized research institution concerned with studying Middle East affairs from a long -term strategic perspective.
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