President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea arrived for a state visit in the UAE on Monday.
The plane carrying Mr Lee was accompanied by a squadron of military aircraft as it entered the country’s airspace, state news agency Wam reported. The commander asked him for permission to escort him to the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi as a greeting and welcome to his visit to the country.
Mr Lee was welcomed on arrival by Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of the UAE’s Executive Affairs Authority. Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State, Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, and Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice and UAE ambassador to the Republic of Korea, were also present.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, later received Mr Lee at Wahat Al Karama in Abu Dhabi.
The two men reviewed a guard of honour and laid flowers at the martyrs’ monument before Mr Lee was briefed on its history. He later wrote a message in the guestbook, expressing his appreciation for fallen UAE soldiers.
The South Korean President is expected to hold talks with President Sheikh Mohamed during his visit to the Emirates.
The leaders will look for ways to advance the special strategic relationship and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) between the UAE and South Korea when they meet in Abu Dhabi.
The Cepa was signed in May last year, when Sheikh Mohamed visited Seoul. It is expected to contribute 1.17 per cent to the UAE’s gross domestic product by 2032 and 2.37 per cent to South Korea’s GDP during the same period.
