Ambassador lauds ‘enduring’ Jordan-S. Korea partnership on national day

AMMAN — The unique natural features and historical sites of Jordan are now on the bucket lists of many Koreans, said Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Jordan Lee Jae-wan on Tuesday.

In his remarks during a reception marking South Korea’s National Day, the ambassador said that this year marks the 4,354th anniversary of the founding of the ancient Korea, “Gojoseon”.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Korea and Jordan, he said.

“Over the last six decades, the two countries, as His Majesty King Abdullah II noted in his congratulatory message, ‘have grown into a strategic and enduring partnership, deep-rooted in friendship and mutual respect’,” Lee said.

“For Koreans, this founding history has indeed been a solid foundation, an anchor, for us, uniting people in a shared sense of purpose, fostering in us a mentality of determination to overcome challenges and to usher in peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula,” the ambassador said. 

He noted that South Korean PresidentYoon Suk-yeol proposed the “Audacious Initiative.” 

“We will provide large-scale assistance to North Korea in improving its economy and people’s standards of living when it takes steps to cease the development of the nuclear programme, and to embark on a substantive process for denuclearisation. Korea will exert all possible diplomatic efforts to encourage the North to come to the table for talks,” the envoy said.

Touching on economic cooperation, Le said that  since 1974, many Korean companies have invested in Jordan, using their cutting-edge expertise to contribute to fulfilling Jordan's national goal of establishing infrastructure.

He also cited the Jordan Research and Training Reactor in Irbid, completed in 2017, as an example of cooperation in the area of technology. 

“I am happy to say that Korean electric companies are currently producing around 20 per cent of the total electricity in Jordan,” the ambassador said. 

He said that bilateral trade volume has been steadily increasing after it recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Last year, Jordan's exports to Korea exceeded $100 million for the first time in the history of its trade, he noted. 

This November, the embassy will hold a joint seminar on the 4th Industrial Revolution with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Supply of Jordan. 

Elaborating on development, the ambassador said that  Korea has been sharing its knowledge and experiences gained on the path of socio-economic development with Jordan to help with the Kingdom’s development goals.

“Currently, Jordan is Korea's second biggest development partner in the MENA region,” Lee said, stressing that the main pillars of cooperation include water resource management, education, health and e-governance. 

As of today, the Korean government has invited almost 1,000 Jordanian officials to participate in various programmes in Korea to share relevant knowledge and skills, he noted.

He highlighted JOKOTI (Jordan-Korea Technology Institute) in Zarqa as “another shining example of success”. 

“Producing around 150 qualified technicians every year, this institute is now recognised as one of the major vocational institutes in Jordan,” the ambassador said.

Regarding cultural cooperation, the ambassador expressed hope that the number of Korean tourists to Jordan would soon return to around 30,000 visitors, similar to figures seen prior to the pandemic.

“K-Pop, Korean films, dramas and food are on the lips of many Jordanians' in their daily lives,” he said. The Korean language (Hangeul) has also been the focus of greater interest and attention in the Kingdom, according to the ambassador. 

Taekwondo is also a valuable asset in cultural cooperation. 

The ambassador also brought attention to the Korean government’s efforts to hold the 2030 World Expo in Busan, the second-largest transshipment port in the world and a symbol of Korea’s successful industrial transformation.

Concluding his remarks, the ambassador said this year is his last time hosting a national day reception in Jordan.

“I, and my family, have been fully charmed with the warm hospitality of our Jordanian friends, and so impressed by its rich historical legacy and beautiful culture,” he said.