Korean ambassador applauds Maldives' commitment to revive economy
The ambassador believes that Maldives foreign minister Shahid is "best equipped" to lead UNGA
Korean Ambassador Woonjin JEONG
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Maldives, Woonjin Jeong, stated that the Maldives has one of the biggest success stories in reviving the tourism industry, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and applauded the government's commitment to revive the economy.
He said this in a message extending felicitations on the Maldives 56th anniversary of Independence and conveyed best wishes and prosperity to the people of Maldives.
The ambassador remains hopeful that the relationship between the Maldives and Korea will continue to strengthen.
Ambassador Jeong went on to congratulate Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid on being elected as the President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and affirmed that he believes that Shahid "is the best equipped" to lead over 193 nations of the General Assembly.
Highlighting that Maldives has made milestone achievements in nation-building, economic development as well as the preserving of independence since gaining it in 1965, the ambassador noted that the citizens of Maldives have shown resilience and determination, which mirror the tremendous progress the country has made in the face of adversity.
The ambassador noted that Maldives and Korea have "ferociously" protected independence and right to self-determination over the past years. He stated that the people of both countries are examples of "resilience" and "steadfastness".
The Ambassador further stated that the Maldives has come a long way since its independence in 1965, and commended the government’s efforts to keep the economy afloat amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ambassador Jeong highlighted his belief that Maldives is "on the path to achieving greater success" and "economic prosperity" in the coming days.
Further, the ambassador noted that over the recent years, engagement in the country's tourism sector has been "commendable" as well, stating that Maldives emerged as one of the "biggest" success stories of reviving tourism amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Ambassador Jeong noted that Maldives is among the top tourist destinations among the people of Korea, expressing hope to see many people-to-people exchanges in the future which he believes will contribute to the betterment of both economies.
The ambassador applauded the continuous close cooperation to protect the people of both countries and "defeat" the pandemic together.
Under the "stay strong" campaign, Maldives and Korea have also enhanced public health cooperation amid the pandemic. The ambassador noted that Korea recognized Maldives as a key partner in South Asia and will continue to stand in solidarity to successfully battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Highlighting that Korea will continue to remain beside Maldives as a "true friend", the ambassador stated that there is always room for progress, even if the level of cooperation between Maldives and Korea remains unprecedented.
The ambassador reaffirmed his commitment to continue cooperation in advancing in sectors of mutual concern and promised to work closely to achieve common goals, noting that both countries have come a long way together to form a cordial bilateral partnership.
Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on 30 November 1967. Since then, Maldives and Korea have enjoyed long-standing diplomatic ties.
