AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITING SOUTH KOREA
Speaker of the Milli Majlis (parliament of Azerbaijan) Ogtay Asadov has been on an official visit to the South Korea since September 4. The delegation of Azerbaijan includes MPs Eldar Guliyev, Fattah Heydarov, head of the MM`s Administration Safa Mirzayev and other officials.
MM Speaker was received by Korean President Roh Moo-hyun who highly assessed rapidly developing relationships between the two countries. The President said his country places a great emphasis on the political, cultural, economic cooperation with Azerbaijan. President Roh Moo-hyun shared his impressions on his last year`s visit to Azerbaijan, saying President Ilham Aliyev`s official visit to the South Korea marked a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations.
Speaker Asadov said bilateral relations have gained a new momentum with both Presidents` reciprocal visits. He noted intensification of political, economic, energy, transport, trade and cultural relations will be fruitful for both nations. According to him, the Economic Cooperation Commission between the two countries exists with Azerbaijan-Korea business forums becoming more regular.
MM Speaker pointed out that trade turnover has surged to $157 million over the past six months from $110 million in 2006. According to him, a number of Korean companies are operating in Azerbaijan. Korea National Petroleum Corporation has recently purchased a 20% interest in the Inam oil field development project.
The meeting with the Korean President focused on Azerbaijan`s economic growth, position in the region, Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and other issues.
On September 4, MM chairman Asadov met with Korea`s National Assembly speaker Lim Chae-jung. The latter said Azerbaijan-Korea relationship has a long history. Reciprocal visits of Leaders of the two states kick-started the cooperation. Speaker Lim Chae-jung expressed his confidence that Azerbaijan would develop even more rapidly and take its worthy place in the world politics. He also highlighted the importance for experience exchange with Azerbaijan.
On the interparliamentary relations, Speaker of the Korea`s National Assembly pointed out that the present visit would contribute to deepening relationships between both parliaments.
During the meeting, Speaker Asadov said it is his first visit to the Eastern Asia as a speaker. According to him, 35 documents on the cooperation created a legal framework for development of bilateral relations. He said relations between Azerbaijan and Korea are being developed in all fields, including trade, transport, energy ones. Mr. Asadov noted that good business conditions were created for the Korean companies to work in Azerbaijan.
On the development prospects of interparliamentary ties, O. Asadov praised the activity of the friendship groups in the Azerbaijani and Korean parliaments and stressed a need to intensify their activity.
MM Speaker updated his Korean counterpart on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, emphasizing that Armenia`s aggressive policy hampers development of Azerbaijan and the whole region.
O. Asadov invited Korean parliament speaker to Azerbaijan.
Later the same day, the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan visited the Korea Electric Power Corporation.
President of the Korean Electric Power Corporation Lee Won-gull provided information about his company, saying the company is interested in starting its business in Azerbaijan. He pointed out that he was a member of the Korean delegation in Azerbaijan when he was deputy minister two years ago, noting they witnessed a huge economic growth in the country. Lee Won-gull went on to say that the Corporation signed a memorandum with the Economic Development Ministry on construction of the 700-megawatt power station in Azerbaijan.
Mr. Asadov said he is hopeful that the projects will be realized soon. He welcomed Korea-Azerbaijan relations, saying Azerbaijan parliament support the cooperation in any sphere.
The meeting also focused on the issues concerning bilateral economic relations.
The visit of the Azerbaijan delegation is underway.
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