Lee voices hope to strengthen ties with UAE in talks with Abu Dhabi crown prince
President Lee Jae Myung, right, shakes hands with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed Al Nahyan as they meet for talks on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, Friday. Yonhap
President Lee Jae Myung on Friday expressed hope to further develop relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as he met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed Al Nahyan.
The two sides met on the margins of the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, which kicked off earlier in the day.
"(I) hope relations between South Korea and the UAE will further develop with the crown prince's visit to the country," Lee said, noting the UAE is the only Middle Eastern country to have formed a "special strategic partnership" with South Korea.
Meanwhile, the crown prince expressed hope for Lee to visit his country in November while describing bilateral ties as very special and important.
He also congratulated Lee on hosting a successful APEC summit, noting that strengthened cooperation among Asian countries is also important for his country.