Ambassador of Ecuador Nicolas Trujillo Newlin of the Republic of Ecuador and Mrs. Vanessa Passailaigue hosted a reception at JW Marriott Hotel in Dongdaemun, Seoul on Aug. 8, 2014 to celebrate the 205th anniversary of the Independence Proclamation of Ecuador.

There were many distinguished Korean and international guests as well as the ambassadors and other senior members of the Diplomatic Corps in Korea. The Korean dignitaries included Director-General Jang Myung-soo of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and media representatives who included Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post.

From the international community came many mission chiefs and other senior diplomats, who included Ambassadors Elisabeth Bertagnoli of Austria, Dato Haji Harun Ismail of Brunei Darussalam, Hernan Brantes Glavic of Chile, Tito Saul Pinilla of Colombia, Manuel Lopez Trigo of Costa Rica, Aingeal O’onoghue of Ireland, Paul Menkveld of the Netherlands, Zahid Nasrulah Khan of Pakistan, Bill Veri of Papua New Guinea, Hernani Filomena Coelho Da Silva of Timor Leste, Vasyl Marmazov of Ukraine and Alba Florio Legnani of Uruguay.

There were music performances presented by noted Ecuadorian artists, namely Violinist Jacob Ormaza Vera and Cellist Luis Arias Polanco.

Speaking to the guests, Ambassador Trujillo Newlin said in part: “Korea is an example of what is possible if we work together, with a good strategic plan, and with determination and commitment to execute efficiently. Korea shows us every day that there is no limit to what a country can do to improve the quality of life for its citizens.” Excerpts from the speech follow:

The reason that we are here today is to celebrate the 205 Anniversary of the Independence Proclamation against the colonial forces in Hispanic America, an event that took place in Quito, on August 10, 1809. This heroic deed contributed toward motivating other towns in the region to begin a decisive move toward liberation. The event we are commemorating today is of profound significance for Latin Americans present here today.

I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government of Ecuador, led by President Rafael Correa Delgado, to thank the officials from the Korean Foreign Ministry who are present here today, as well as the Korean Businessmen who have invested in Ecuador, and we express our gratitude to the members of Academia, and other friends of Ecuador for your generous work toward strengthening the bonds of friendship that exist between the peoples of Ecuador and Korea.

Today, the government of Ecuador maintains a high level of commitment, not only to learn from the lessons generously taught by the Korean people, but also to adapt these lessons to our country’s particular reality, and apply them for the true benefit of Ecuadorian citizens.

Korea is an example of what is possible if we work together, with a good strategic plan, and with determination and commitment to execute efficiently. Korea shows us every day that there is no limit to what a country can do to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Today, Ecuador is undergoing a profound transformation and modernization of its infrastructure and implementing significant improvements within its administrative apparatus for the public sector, initiatives that could not be achieved without the support of friendly governments such as Korea’s.

Some of the projects that have been developed with Korean technology include Customs and Electronic Government, the design and construction of new facilities, as well as the refurbishment of our existing oil refineries, and the design and construction of the city of knowledge, Yachay.

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