Special Princess Envisions Resurrection of Silk Road
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
A Kuwaiti princess at yesterday's conference for the launching of Korea-Arab Society said she envisions the resurrection of the old silk route from the East to West from this multinational endeavor.
``This Korea-Arab Society, I believe, is going to resurrect the old silk route, which was a route that facilitated exchanges of a lot of ideas, trade and cultures between the East and West," Princess of Kuwait Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah told The Korea Times Monday at the international conference in Seoul.
Princess Hussah, one of the most influential royal figures in Kuwait and in the Arabic region, was one of 200 representatives from 22 Arab nations who participated in the inaugural conference at the Lotte Hotel.
The society, scheduled to be launched on June 30, will serve as an additional mechanism to expand economic and cultural cooperation between Korea and 22 participating Arab states.
The society will help create networks with royal families and high-ranking officials from each state, along with participation from major corporations and non-profit groups. It will also host Arab cultural festivals and forums in Korea throughout the year.
``So in fact, Korea is taking the leading role of giving life to the old silk route again at a time when there are wars and a lot of atrocities committed in the world. Korea lends its hand to people to get together for understanding and empathy, which I really appreciate," Princess Hussah said.
When asked about Korea's oil import from Kuwait, she said the two countries have a mutually beneficial economic relationship, which she hopes will continue to grow.
``Korea is one of the biggest importers of our oil. So we have a very special relationship with Korea. You buy our oil and we buy your expertise. You are experts in technology and that's what we really like and what we get."
Koreans have been very constructive in the building of Kuwait, the princess said. ``You know, we have lots of Korean companies working in the sector of oil and construction.
They built our refineries and they also built a great relationship with the Kuwaiti people." She said, ``We have a lot of respect for the Korean people whom we met in Kuwait. Now I meet Koreans, of course, here. And it is a reflection of what I had known from my image of Koreans in Kuwait."
Princess Hussah, who is in charge of cultural activities for the Kuwaiti government, said she hopes for further bilateral exchanges of ideas and cultures between Korea and her country.
``We can exchange ideas and have better empathy toward each other. When you come to know about our Islamic culture and when we come to know about your culture, this will bring us closer."
The princess is scheduled to meet with the director of Korea's National Museum where she will discuss possible Kuwaiti art exhibitions in Seoul.