Hussar: Increasing cooperation between Estonia and Korea offers great development opportunities

Hussar said at the meeting that the excellent relations between Estonia and Korea were characterised by shared values in defending freedom, democracy and the international legal order, as well as by close cooperation in many fields. He pointed out that the opening of the Estonian Embassy and Business Centre in Seoul in early 2023 and the opening of the Korean Embassy in Tallinn in March this year had boosted these excellent relations.

Hussar noted that in the increasingly tense security situation, which had led to the need to significantly increase defence spending, close defence cooperation was important for both countries, and as part of this cooperation, Estonia had purchased K9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea. “In addition to cooperation of defence industries, we are also developing digital cooperation and are ready to share our experience and pay even more attention to cooperation in cyber defence,” he said.

It was confirmed at the meeting that expanding economic cooperation offered great growth opportunities, and the promotion of cultural ties and tourism was also considered important. The participation of the Daegu Opera House in this year’s Saaremaa Opera Festival was particularly highlighted. The Speakers also underlined the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, emphasising the need to further develop interparliamentary relations.

Hussar pointed out that a 12-member Estonia-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group had been formed in the Riigikogu, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu had visited the Republic of Korea last autumn, and Chair of the Environment Committee of the Riigikogu Yoko Alender had visited Seoul with a business delegation in April this year. “The importance of parliamentary diplomacy has grown considerably in the last three years, especially since Russia started a full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine,” the President of the Riigikogu said, and reiterated the desire to further strengthen parliamentary relations.

Chair of the Estonia-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart and members of the Group Yoko Alender and Urve Tiidus also participated in the meeting of the Speakers.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea arrived in Estonia for a three-day visit on Sunday, when he met with the Korean community in Estonia. He will meet with President Alar Karis, and visit the e-Estonia Briefing Centre. He will also visit the Estonian Open Air Museum, Kadriorg Art Museum, Palmse Manor and Viru Bog.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Hussar: Increasing cooperation between Estonia and Korea offers great development opportunities

Source: Parliament of Estonia