South Korea, UAE to expand ties in health, culture

South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to expand their ties in various areas, including new growth industries such as health and halal foods, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with his UAE counterpart, Mohammed Mir Abdullah Al Raisi, in Dubai, and the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including the recent expansion of cooperation to new areas such as health, halal foods, public safety, education and culture, the ministry said according to Yonhap News Agency.

Cho noted the growing number of UAE citizens traveling to South Korea for medical services, while Mohammed expressed satisfaction with the level of service provided by South Korean-run hospitals in his country.

Cho said that he expects greater cultural exchanges following the opening of a Korean cultural center in the UAE, scheduled for early next year.

Mohammed welcomed the center's opening, saying that Korean culture has become extremely popular in his country.

The two countries have strengthened partnerships in the energy and construction sectors, with a South Korean nuclear power plant project currently under way in Barakah, some 270 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, scheduled for completion in 2020.

Sources: MENA