Your Excellency Rafael Espada,
Distinguished Delegates of the Government of the Republic of Guatemala,
and Distinguished guests,
It is a great honor to have with us Your Excellency Rafael Espada, Vice President of the Republic of Guatemala, a country that is the birthplace of the great Mayan civilization and has recently emerged as a leader in the integration process of Central America. On behalf of the Korean people and government, I would like to thank you for traveling a long way to be here with us tonight.
Your visit to Korea is especially meaningful as it follows the visit of the former President Roh Moo-hyun to Guatemala in 2007, and I consider such high-level diplomacy as a sure sign of the ever-strengthening ties between our two countries.
Excellency,
As we discussed at our meeting today, Korea and Guatemala have steadily strengthened the cooperative and friendly relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962. Currently, the trade volume between the two countries amounts to 500 million US dollars and the value of Korean investments in Guatemala has soared to 170 million US dollars.
Moreover, Guatemala currently has a Korean community of about 10,000 people, which is the largest in Central America, and I am pleased that the 150 Korean companies operating in Guatemala are employing about 100,000 Guatemalan citizens, thus making a small yet valuable contribution to the development of your great country. This considerable Korean presence in Guatemala can be looked upon as a clear manifestation of our close ties.
Taking this opportunity, I would once again like to thank Guatemala for supporting Korea’s bid to host the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang on the occasion of the annual meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that was held in Guatemala City in July of 2007. Even though the Games was not awarded to PyeongChang, I have the fond memory of the warm hospitality by the Guatemalan people and strong support by your government during my visit there.
Excellency,
In both Korea and Guatemala, new governments have recently taken office. Having assumed the presidency in January of this year, President Alvaro Colom is firmly set on a path of pursuing market-friendly policies while resolutely upholding the principles of democracy. As such, I am confident that the new governments of Korea and Guatemala will be able to bring their already strong bilateral relations to a higher level.
I sincerely wish that Your Excellency and your delegation will reap fruitful results from this visit, and take home with you pleasant memories of Korea.
Excellency,
Distinguished guests,
I hereby propose a toast to the health of Vice President Rafael Espada, the eternal prosperity of the Republic of Guatemala, and the everlasting friendship between our two countries.
Salud!
Muchas Gracias!
이 누리집은 대한민국 공식 전자정부 누리집입니다.
