By Abubakarr Harding
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has on the 30th November, 2022 welcomed His Excellency Kim Young Chae, Ambassador of South Korea to Sierra Leone, and shared his Government’s plans to use education as the base for the country’s sustainable development.
The visit comes as the two countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic, trade and economic relationships.
“For the past 60 years, we have been strengthening and broadening this relationship between our two countries. So, you are very much welcome here, as you have come at a particular point in time for more diplomatic strength. Please convey my fraternal greetings to His Excellency Yoon Suk-yeol, as we are heartened by his commitment to increasing trade with Sierra Leone by 20 percent annually.
“We want to have a very strong relationship with the private sector in South Korea and to work together, especially in the areas of agriculture and education, which we believe will lift our country because we are very aware of the technological advancements that you have made,” he noted, adding that they would also explore opportunities in ICT.
President Bio said he was also using the opportunity, again, to thank the Government and people of South Korea for the beautiful edifice of the City Hall, which was a symbol of their long-standing relationship.
“We are very happy that you are here. We know that you will be at the Security Council as a non-permanent member, and at about the same time, we want to assure you that the peace you seek is always shared by us. We are also a peaceful nation, and we will be there to always seek your interest,” he said.
In his remarks, the Korean Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Kim Young Chae, said: “His Excellency, please allow me to stand on the existing protocol to express my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for the 60 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Korea. I want to convey my warmest greetings of friendship to Your Excellency and the people of Sierra Leone from the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol”.
“Your Excellency, since the establishment of the diplomatic relationship, our two countries have continued to strengthen mutual cooperation in various aspects, and as an Ambassador, I am particularly delighted for the reconstruction of the City Hall, as one of the country’s highlights of our bilateral cooperation over the past 60 years,” he said.
