President Pinera of Chile stresses at businessmen luncheon in Seoul
By Publisher Lee Kyung-sik, Vice Chairman Choe Nam-suk, Reporter Hwang Jung-ha
President Sebastian Pinera of the Republic of Chile stated that he will make efforts to increase cooperation with Korea in the area of 5G (5th generation mobile communication), electric vehicles and clean energy at a luncheon meeting in Seoul today (April 29, 2019).
Speaking to an estimated 250 guests at a luncheon meeting at the Lotte Hotel hosted by the heads of the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry and four other major Korean business organizations, President Pinera said, “Korea is the 11th economic power in the world and the fifth largest economic partner of Chile.”
Then he said that Chile is trying to change the transportation system and that, due to shortage of fossil fuel, she is preparing to develop solar energy, wind, tidal and earth-energy power generation.
Earlier, President Moon Jae-in formalized Korea's bid to become an associate member of the Pacific Alliance during his talks with President Sebastian Pinera.
The luncheon was attended by the leaders of many prominent Korean business organizations and media, including Hyundai Group and The Korea Post (publisher of 2 Korean, 3 English media)
Previously, President Moon had agreed to actively cooperate with Chile as the country is slated to serve as the rotating chair of the Latin American trade bloc--which also includes three other full-time members: Colombia, Mexico and Peru--starting in the latter half of this year
On the occasion of the Moon-Pinera summit, the two countries signed an agreement on defense cooperation and three MOUs meant to deepen partnerships on digital government, transportation and ICT.
President Pinera is the first leader of a Latin American country to visit South Korea since Moon took office in May 2017.
In 2004, Korea and Chile forged a "comprehensive, cooperative" partnership when the then-President Roh Moo-hyun traveled to Santiago.
Moon and Pinera also had one-on-one summit talks in New York last September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session.
President Pinera made his previous trip to Seoul in 2012 for the Nuclear Security Summit.
Seoul is among more than 50 observers to the alliance, launched in 2012, with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore serving as associate members.
On the occasion of the Moon-Pinera summit, the two sides signed a pact on defense cooperation and three MOUs meant to deepen partnerships on e-government and transportation as well as big data, 5G and artificial intelligence.
Chile is South Korea's first free trade agreement (FTA) partner. Two-way trade volume quadrupled to US$6.28 billion last year from $1.57 billion in 2003 before the FTA took effect.
Moon and Pinera also had one-on-one summit talks in New York last September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session.