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South Korea’s Moon wants increased tourist arrivals from PHL
South Korean President Moon Jae In said Monday he is hoping that more Filipinos will visit his country as the Philippines and South Korea gear up for the seventh decade of diplomatic ties.
Moon made the remark following his bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte at the presidential Blue House in Seoul.
“I hope to see more people from the Philippines visit Korea as well,” Moon said.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, 1.6 million South Koreans visited the Philippines and 450,000 Filipinos went to South Korea last year, aside from the expatriates in each country.
South Korea hosts 68,000 Filipinos composed of workers, students, professionals, missionaries, and spouses of Korean nationals.
“The people of our two countries will visit each other more frequently and enhance the understanding in communication among them,” Moon said, adding the Philippines and South Korea agreed to designate 2019 as the year of mutual exchanges between South Korea and the Philippines to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
“We agree to accelerate people-to-people exchanges along with various cultural cooperation projects,” he said.
Moon thanked Duterte for his promise to pay closer attention and provide support towards protecting the lives and ensuring the safety of Korean nationals in the Philippines.
He also lauded Duterte’s leadership “which has enabled rapid economic growth and social stability, drawing great support from the people of the Philippines in the process.”
“The Republic of Korea will also actively participate in the national developments of the Philippines,” Moon said.
The South Korean leader said he is looking forward to seeing the Korean companies’ participation further expanded in the fields of transportation, energy and infrastructure through cooperation in new industries such as infocommunications as well as science and technology.
“We will create the growth engine for the future together,” he said. — BAP, GMA News
