(unofficial translation)
President Borut Pahor, I am glad to see you again. It’s been three years since our meeting during your visit to Korea – the first by a Slovenian president – on the occasion of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. It is my great honor to receive from you the Order of Special Merit of Slovenia. You and I exchanging our two countries’ highest honors will attest to Korea and Slovenia’s solidarity and cooperation and symbolize our extraordinary friendship.
I congratulate Slovenia on assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second half of this year. I expect your leadership, which has contributed to integration in Europe, to further enhance solidarity and cooperation among the EU member countries. Likewise, I believe that Korea-EU relations will also be strengthened further.
Today’s summit comes ahead of the 30
th anniversary next year of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. I hope it will serve as a starting point – both for our two countries’ mutual benefit and cooperation and a joint leap forward toward a new future.
Thank you.