With a large business delegation
President Park Geun-hye left Korea yesterday on Air Force 1 in a tour of four Central and South American countries leading a business delegation of 126 business leaders and economic officials, largest so far.
President Park will visit Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil on her first Presidential trip to Latin America.
First, President Park will pay an official visit to Colombia from April 16 through 18. She will start her official trip by attending a Korea-Colombia business forum on April 17.
She will then attend an official welcoming ceremony hosted by the Colombian government, a bilateral summit, an MOU-signing ceremony and then a joint news conference. Colombia has long been tied closely to Korea. It was the only nation in either Central or South America to have participated in the Korean War.
Also, Korea was the first country in Asia to sign an FTA with Colombia. During the bilateral summit, President Park will discuss with Colombian President Juan Santos ways in which to enhance the bilateral, strategic, cooperative partnership that has been maintained since 2011.
On April 21, President Park will pay a state visit to Peru. She is scheduled to take part in an official welcoming ceremony, a bilateral summit with Peruvian President OllantaHumala, an MOU-signing ceremony and then a joint news conference with her Peruvian counterpart.
President Park will pay a state visit to Chile from April 21 to 23. She will have a bilateral summit with President Michelle Bachelet and attend an MOU-signing ceremony on April 22. President Park will discuss with her Chilean counterpart ways to develop the bilateral relationship, based on ties established through the Korea-Chile FTA and through their comprehensive cooperative partnership that has been maintained since 2004.
On the last leg of her trip, President Park will pay a state visit to Brazil from April 23 to 25. During the bilateral summit, the two heads of state will extensively share their opinions on their substantive, comprehensive, cooperative partnership which they have maintained since 2004.
They will also discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international affairs. President Park`s visit to four countries in South America is expected to create an opportunity to build trust with leaders there and to help develop co-prosperity.
It will lay a solid foundation for economic growth as a Pacific partner, and will offer all countries involved a chance to pave the way forward, together into an open era of prosperity and happiness.