By Song Baleun and Yoon Sojung

President Moon Jae-in on Oct. 23 hosted a summit with Spanish King Felipe VI at Cheong Wa Dae, with both leaders agreeing that the two countries have developed a friendly and cooperative relationship.

Greeting the first Spanish king to make a state visit to Korea in 23 years, the president said, "I sincerely welcome your second visit to Korea 31 years after your first trip to Seoul as crown prince for the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics."

Saying the two countries can expand cooperation in many areas, President Moon also told the king, "Spain has pursued industrial digitalization through the Industry 4.0 policy and Korea has headed toward the path of innovative growth focusing on new industries such as future cars, system semiconductors, and the bio and health care sectors."

"If we work together in core sectors of 5G services such as self-driving cars and smart city, we can create a remarkable synergy."

On the upcoming 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, the president said, "I hope that the Industry 4.0 conference and the international tourism expo in which Korea will be the main guest country will help bolster friendship and cooperation between Seoul and Madrid."

"I hope that your state visit to Korea is an opportunity to open another 70 years of co-prosperity between both countries."

With both leaders present, trade and investment organizations of the two governments signed memorandums of understanding on tourism cooperation and exchange of information on trade and investment to mark "2020-2021 Korea-Spain Visit Year."

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