Congratulatory Remarks by H.E. Cho Hyun
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
" The 21st Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum "
November 10, 2025
(As delivered /영상녹화)

Her Excellency Minister, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad (마리암 빈트 알리 빈 나세르 알-미스나드)
Director Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Horr, (압둘라지즈 알-호르)
President 강영훈,
Dr. Khalid Al-Jaber, (칼리드 알-자베르)
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assala-mu Aleikum! (앗쌀라-무 알레이쿰)

Although I regret not being with you in Doha today,
it is a great honor to address this distinguished gathering at the
21st Korea–Middle East Cooperation Forum.
I am particularly delighted to return to this Forum after
eight years – since my participation as Vice Minister in 2017.
I wish to express my deep appreciation to all those who have sustained and developed this Forum:
Korea–Arab Society, the Jeju Peace Institute,
the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, and above all,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.

I also commend Qatar for its continued commitment
to co-hosting this Forum with us for the fourth consecutive year – a testament to the special nature of our bilateral ties.

This Forum comes at a pivotal juncture,
a moment for Korea and the Middle East to
envision a more promising and prosperous future together.

Reflecting on our journey offers a compass
for navigating the uncertainties ahead.
Since the early 1960s,
when our first diplomatic bridges were built, cooperation has flourished across the economic and energy sectors,
becoming a vital engine of growth for both our regions.

The Middle East provided Korea
with a stable supply of crude oil and LNG,
while Korean enterprises built landmark infrastructure
across the region.

Qatar, in particular, stands as one of our closest partners
in LNG cooperation.
As of 2024, it is Korea's second-largest LNG supplier, accounting for nearly one-fifth of our imports,
while Korea is Qatar's third-largest export destination.

Between 2019 and 2024, Korean shipbuilders secured almost 80% of Qatar's LNG carrier contracts – a remarkable demonstration of technological excellence
and deep mutual trust.

In October 2023, our two nations elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,
laying a solid foundation for broader cooperation in the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are living in era of profound transformation.
Artificial intelligence and advanced technologies bring extraordinary opportunities, but also new anxieties.
At the same time, peace remains fragile in many parts of the world, reminding us that stability and prosperity
must go hand in hand.

In this light, the three sessions of this Forum
capture precisely the spirit of collaboration we need.

First, we should deepen our commitment to peace amid turbulence.
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Korea is working as a facilitator and a mediator of peace.
Last September, I chaired Council briefings
on Ukraine and the Middle East, and led a dialogue with the League of Arab States.
Drawing on our own experience on the Korean Peninsula,
we understand the arduous path toward reconciliation.
We therefore value your constructive efforts
to ease regional tensions and promote regional stability.
For our part, President Lee Jae Myung laid out his E.N.D. vision – Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization
– to foster a virtuous cycle of engagement and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Second, true prosperity demands innovation and digital transformation.
Korea has set an ambitious goal to become
the world's third largest AI powerhouse,
and we are partnering across the Middle East to that end.
Last month, the Korea-Qatar AI Forum in Doha brought together policy, research, and industry leaders to deepen collaboration in AI, smart energy, and digital transformation.
Joint efforts such as Korea's IT Cooperation Center
at Dubai Internet City further reflect our shared determination to turn innovation into opportunity.

Third, it is important to nurture the next generation of innovators who will drive our shared future.
Our partnership is expanding into dynamic sectors where innovation meets culture – opening new possibilities
such as K-Food and Halal collaboration,
advancing ventures in K-Beauty and wellness,
and deepening creative ties through K-pop and cultural exchanges that connect our people.
These growing linkages will empower entrepreneurship, inclusivity, and opportunity across generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Over the past two decades, Korea and the Middle East
have built a relationship founded on
trust, respect, and mutual benefit.
We have evolved from economic partners into strategic companions shaping a shared vision for the future.

In the decades ahead, may our partnership continue to flourish
– as friends who grow together,
as partners who build shared prosperity,
and as companions who inspire future generations with a story of cooperation and hope.

I trust that today's Forum in Doha
will mark a chapter in that noble journey. Thank you.

/END/