President Moon Jae-in held a telephone conversation with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, at his office in the secretariat building of Yeomin-gwan at Cheong Wa Dae for 25 minutes from 7:10 this evening. President Moon began by wishing all Muslims around the world a solemn, peaceful Ramadan by saying “Ramadan Kareem.” The President also thanked the Crown Prince for calling in person to congratulate him on his inauguration despite his busy schedule.

The Crown Prince responded by saying that he was grateful to the President for his Ramadan greetings and that he was all the more pleased to speak on the phone with the President because bilateral relations between the two countries are at a special level.

President Moon noted that the Crown Prince had met with former Korean Presidents and worked hard to advance Korea-UAE ties to the extent that he had made as many as four visits to Korea so far. Saying that he was pleased to have a chance to talk to him on the phone, the President asked the Crown Prince to continue to give unsparing support for and show interest in Korea. He continued to say that he was gratified that the relationship between the two countries had steadily developed since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1980, particularly pointing out the close partnership built since the forming in 2009 of a strategic partnership on various fronts, including energy, construction, national defense, healthcare and medical services, public security and culture.

President Moon further explained that the United Arab Emirates is a hub country that has the largest concentration of Korean expatriates and businesses among Middle Eastern and African countries combined. For that reason, he added, the Korean Government and the people of Korea have an extraordinary interest in enhancing relations with the UAE. He went on to express his conviction that the Barakah Project, the symbol of bilateral cooperation, would be successfully carried out without a setback, helping promote the technological capabilities and reliability of the two nations around the world for the coming 100 years. He also mentioned that he was pleased at thriving exchanges of high-level officials between the two countries reflecting such close bilateral relations. He added that he would be more than happy if the Crown Prince could visit Korea at his convenience.

The Crown Prince said that he felt honored to be invited by President Moon, himself. Saying that he has visited Korea four times so far, the Crown Prince added that it would be unimaginable that he would not visit Korea five or six times or more. He went on to say that the project to build a nuclear power plant in Barakah had a strategic importance and that the project was meaningful in that it had helped open up the possibility of developing bilateral relations. He extended an official invitation asking President Moon to visit his country any time. In this connection, he expressed the hope that the President would be able to attend the completion ceremony for the nuclear plant unit one in Barakah.

In reply, President Moon said he was satisfied by the smooth progress in the project in Barakah thanks to the special interest and support shown by the Crown Prince, promising the Korean Government`s full assistance and efforts to make the project the most successful in the world. He then expressed his appreciation for the invitation and said he felt honored by it. The President also said he was willing to adjust his schedule so that he could participate in the completion ceremony. Noting that the Akh Unit dispatched to the UAE is one of the elite forces in the Republic of Korea, President Moon said the unit was a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation in that it helped lift the standard of our military while supporting training of the UAE troops. The President continued to say that the Korean Government would make efforts to further enhance national defense cooperation centered around the Akh Unit. Speaking of his understanding that defense industry cooperation is taking place in various areas, the President said he hoped that it would develop into a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship conducive to the security of each nation.

Expressing appreciation to the President for his trust, the Crown Prince said he believed the Barakah project would be able to be completed in the most exemplary manner in the world and that he has absolute confidence in its success. Describing the Akh Unit as a cornerstone to promote bilateral relations and mutual trust, he noted that the unit was of help in enhancing the capabilities of the UAE Special Forces and promoting stability in the Middle East. He went on to say that the unit would play a great role in promoting bilateral ties between the two nations. Commenting on the President`s remarks about the defense industry project, the Crown Prince said strong confidence has already been created and that it is ideal for two nations with an unwavering relationship to push ahead with a defense industry project.

President Moon said he had been a member of the Special Forces when he was in the military, adding that he was proud of the Akh Unit’s mission. Mentioning one more exceptional case in bilateral relations, the President said that half of the Middle Eastern patients who visited Korea last year were UAE nationals and the Seoul National University Hospital has been successfully operating the Sheikh Khalifa Specialist Hospital in the UAE. The President went on to say that the excellence of the Korean medical services is being acknowledged in the UAE, asking for continuous interest by the Crown Prince in medical cooperation so that it could be expanded even further.

President Moon expressed his high regard and gratitude to the UAE especially for its consistent support so far for South Korea’s position in relation to issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea’s nuclear tests. The President continued to say that his Administration would seek decisive and fundamental denuclearization of the North through gradual and inclusive approaches, utilizing all methods available, including sanctions and dialogue. Then, he expressed the hope that Korea would be able to continue strategic communications and cooperation in the months to come with the UAE, Korea’s key friend in the Middle East, to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, asking for the Crown Prince’s continued interest and support in the process.

Replying that since the President was once in the Special Forces, the Crown Prince suggested the President visit the Akh Unit. The Crown Prince went on to say that the cooperation in health care indicates their growing mutual trust, adding that touching someone’s body is considered very sensitive in the Islamic world. He also said that the UAE’s response to the North was natural and that so far the measures taken by the UAE were a minimum.

Expressing his gratitude for the warm words of the Crown Prince’s today, President Moon said that he was able to reaffirm the strong determination of the two nations to further expand cooperation as true strategic partners moving into the future together. The President continued to say that he was looking forward to an opportunity to share ideas on issues of mutual interest on various occasions as the two nations are partners for the next 100 years, adding that he was looking forward to meeting the Crown Prince in person at the earliest date possible.

Finally, the Crown Prince said it was truly an honor to have phone conversations with President Moon and he would arrange his schedule to meet the President. The President thanked the Crown Prince for his congratulatory remarks and said again he was looking forward to meeting him in person.