EU congratulates new S Korean President

The European Union Wednesday congratulated Park Geun-hye on her elections as President of the Republic of Korea. "The Republic of Korea and the European Union are Strategic Partners. We believe that our partnership, based on shared values and common goals, can make a real difference also in addressing global challenges," said the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. "As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of diplomatic relations, we look forward to continuing work with you to further expand our cooperation, including in the economic field, and promote peace, security and respect for human rights," said the statement. South Korea was the first Asian country to have signed a a free-trade agreement with the EU. The FTA came into force in July last year.