Qatar to host 19th Korea-Middle East Co-operation Forum next year

The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council), the Korea-Arab Society (KAS) and Jeju Peace Institute (JPI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance co-operation in co-hosting the Korea-Middle East Co-operation Forum from 2022 to 2024.

The MoU also aims to improve means of co-operation and partnership in the fields of knowledge and research between Korea and the Middle East and between Korea and Qatar. The signing took place at the opening ceremony of the 18th Korea-Middle East Co-operation Forum, co-hosted by the ME Council on November 18 in Seoul, Korea, in partnership with the KAS and JPI.

The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea. First launched in 2003, this forum is a track 1.5 forum held annually in Korea and countries in the Middle East alternately and attended by both private and public sectors. The 19th forum will be held next year in Doha.

The theme of this year’s forum was “Building a Futureoriented Korea and the Middle East Partnership for Mutual Benefit and Common Prosperity” and featured three sessions.

The sessions focused on ‘A Changing Middle East: Approaches to Maximise Opportunities,’ ‘Establishing a Cooperative Framework on Supply Chains and Future Industries,’ and ‘Ways to Address Food Security in Response to Global Instability’ respectively.

HE the Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater represented Qatar and delivered welcoming remarks highlighting the status and strength of the relationship between Korea and the Middle East as well as KoreaQatar co-operation.

Park Yongmin, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea, also delivered welcoming remarks emphasising that Korea is an ideal partner for co-operation with the Middle East towards a postoil economy and in innovative future industries.

In his opening remarks, the ME Council director, Tarik Yousef, stressed the importance of holding this forum at a time of increased co-operation between the Gulf and the Asian powers as the economic weight of the world gravitates towards Asia.

Yousef also emphasised the commitment of Korea and Qatar to their regions’ development and the role of the ME Council, KAS, and JPI partnership as a reinforcer of the strength and growth of Korea-Qatar ties in the Asian century.