Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon of South Korea visited the Dominican Republic for three days, meeting with President Danilo Medina and Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas last week. This was the first official bilateral meeting between the leaders of these two countries since establishing diplomatic relations in 1962.
Foreign Minister Vargas reported new South Korean investments would be forthcoming in education, energy, transport and technology. Vargas spoke after the South Korean Prime Minister met President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace.
The visit was a first stop of two official visits in Latin America that the South Korean prime minister made to the Dominican Republic and Brazil to strengthen bilateral relations with both countries. His office reported the focus was on cooperation in energy, infrastructure and communication technology projects.
During his visit to the Dominican Republic, the prime minister also visited the Centro de Atención Integral Adolescentes of the Ministry of Women in Los Prados, Santo Domingo. The center works to prevent and care for pregnant teenagers and was founded in 2015 with support from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Lee Nak-yeon held meetings with Dominican business leaders, attended a wreath- laying ceremony at the Altar de la Patria that honors the Dominican Republic founders (Altar of the Homeland) in the Colonial City accompanying Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas.
In addition, the Prime Minister visited the Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD). Trade between both countries is US$719.49 million of which the DR exports US$181.12 million in ferronickel.
Foreign Minister Vargas said that the minister committed to back the Dominican candidacy to a two-year non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Ministry of Women
19 March 2018
