Abu dhabi: Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea, and President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held a summit meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. The two leaders valued the steady expansion of the Republic of Korea-United Arab Emirates cooperation in various areas such as energy, construction and infrastructure, trade, investment, national defense and defense technology, space, advanced technology including AI, health and medical services, agriculture, education, culture, and people-to-people exchange since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980.
According to Emirates News Agency, both leaders noted with satisfaction the significant deepening of the Republic of Korea-United Arab Emirates relationship, notably the signing of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant Project with Korean companies in 2009 and the deployment of the Akh Unit to the United Arab Emirates in 2011. This relationship is based on the Special Strategic Partnership established in 2018, which has further reflected in continued bilateral cooperation on existing programs in space.
The leaders agreed to deepen the Republic of Korea-United Arab Emirates Special Strategic Partnership by building a resilient and future-focused relationship. This includes supporting the UAE Centennial 2071, a roadmap to make the UAE a world-leading nation. The Republic of Korea is recognized as a trusted partner in this endeavor.
The two countries aim to focus on mutual growth in national defense, advanced technology, nuclear energy, public health, food security, and culture exchange. They plan to establish a cooperation mechanism in each area, including a joint R and D platform and expanding technology and knowledge transfer.
In AI and semiconductors, the countries will explore joint projects such as hyperscale AI data centers and Smart Port projects. They will also initiate high-level dialogues on AI governance and cyber security.
In nuclear energy, they will collaborate on nuclear fuel and digital transformation for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, aiming to expand the 'Barakah model' globally. This aligns with the Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership's goals.
In national defense, both countries will work on joint development and technology cooperation, emphasizing knowledge-transfer and capacity building. In the water sector, they recognized the importance of the upcoming UN Water Conference in 2026 and their contributions to water technology.
In public health, they will establish a Pre-Post Care Center for UAE-based patients and discuss a K-Medical Comprehensive Cluster for joint research. In education, they will promote mutual visits and youth internship programs.
In culture, the UAE aims to become a center for cultural exchange, drawing on the interest in Korean culture. The countries will continue discussions on measures to benefit their citizens through active exchanges.
The leaders agreed to designate high-level officials to promote strategic cooperation and implement the matters agreed upon at the summit. They committed to engaging in sincere discussions to shape a legacy of peace and prosperity for future generations, with frequent meetings to deepen their partnership.