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| President Park Geun-hye shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of their talks at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. / Joint press corps |
Korea pledges $5.5 million assistance
By Kang Seung-woo
Korea will offer $5.5 million in official development assistance (ODA) and increase humanitarian aid to the State of Palestine, Cheong Wa Dae said, Thursday.
During a meeting between President Park Geun-hye and President Mahmoud Abbas at the presidential office, Park pledged to provide the aid.
Abbas arrived in Seoul, Wednesday, for a three-day visit after traveling to Japan, where he met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito. This is the Palestinian leader's second trip to Korea after a previous visit in 2010.
"While explaining the government's support for UNESCO's Better Life for Girls initiative to improve access to education and healthcare services in developing countries, President Park said Korea will strengthen humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees," the presidential office said in a statement.
The two leaders also exchanged opinions on mutual interests, Cheong Wa Dae added.
South Korea, which does not recognize Palestine's statehood, set up a permanent diplomatic mission there in the city of Ramallah in August 2014.
After the meeting with Park, Abbas also met with National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa and attended a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.
"Relations between the two countries will develop to the next level through exchanges between their parliaments," Chung said.
"I highly value the generous support South Korea gave us that helped us establish peace in Palestine," Abbas said.
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