President Yoon Suk Yeol on Jan. 21 returned home after completing his eight-day tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland. From Jan. 14-17, he became the first Korean leader to make a state visit to the UAE, holding a bilateral summit with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and securing USD 30 billion in investment from the Middle Eastern nation.
On Jan. 18, President Yoon in Davos, Switzerland, held a luncheon with CEOs of leading domestic and foreign companies on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. The next day, he gave a speech at the forum on his ideas for international cooperation to strengthen supply chains and form a digital order. This article is a photo review of President Yoon’s first trip abroad this year.
By Park Hye Ri
President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee on Jan. 14 arrive at Abu Dhabi International Airport in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the first Korean leader to make a state visit to the UAE, President Yoon while entering the country’s airspace on the presidential plane Code One was escorted by four UAE Air Force fighter planes as a state guest. (Office of the President)
President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from left in second row) and first lady Kim Keon Hee on Jan. 15 visit the Korean military contingent Akh Unit near Abu Dhabi and take a commemorative photo. “All of you who came here to play an active role show the strength of the Republic of Korea’s defense capacity to the whole world,” he said. “As the commander in chief, I feel very proud and reassured.” (Office of the President)
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Jan. 16 gives a keynote address at the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The presidential office said he explained in his speech his plan for Korea’s carbon neutrality, saying, “If the special strategic partnership between Korea and the UAE further extends to cooperation in achieving carbon neutrality, our two countries will be able to enhance our leadership in the international community and create more opportunities for economic cooperation.” (Office of the President)
President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) on Jan. 17 in Dubai receives from UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the latter’s biography. In their meeting that day, President Yoon said that to implement the UAE and Dubai’s grand vision Projects of the 50, he was confident that Korea could be the closest and most trustworthy rafiq (“companion” in Arabic).” (Office of the President)
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Jan. 17 views a display at the Museum of the Future in Dubai before attending the Future Vision Forum hosted by the museum. At the forum, he stressed the importance of science and technology, saying, “Science and technology can completely change our future depending on how we develop and use it.” (Office of the President)
First lady Kim Keon Hee (right) on Jan. 17 speaks with UAE Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum at the Museum of the Future in Dubai. In their talks, the first lady said she hopes for opportunities between Korea and Dubai to jointly open up and develop the future through bilateral cultural exchange. (Office of the President)
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Jan. 17 gives a speech at a dinner at a hotel in Zurich, Switzerland, for ethnic Korean residents in Switzerland, saying, “I will do my best so that the Republic of Korea’s new leap forward will bring practical benefits to everyone, our compatriots.” (Office of the President)
President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) on Jan. 18 shakes hands with Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab at Ameron Davos Swiss Mountain Resort in Davos, Switzerland, at the event “Korea Night,” which sought to promote Korea and strengthen networks among attendees of the WEF, which attracts leading figures in global politics and economy. This year’s event also promoted Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Female vocalists Na Yoon-sun and Sohyang and the dance group Ambiguous performed on stage. Korean dishes like tteokgalbi (grilled short rib meat patties), gujeolpan (nine-food platter) and galbijjim (braised beef short ribs) were also served. (Yonhap News)
First lady Kim Keon Hee (second from right) on Jan. 18 speaks to artists invited to an event for “art leaders” at Davos Congress Centre in Davos, Switzerland. She offered words of encouragement and said, “I would like to invite you to Korea so that your meaningful messages can be conveyed to Koreans as well.” (Office of the President)
President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from left) on Jan. 19 takes photos with students at ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Zurich, Switzerland, after holding talks there with quantum physicists. (Office of the President)
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