By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun held a videoconference with the UK’s new Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds on August 14 to congratulate his appointment and expressed hopes for close ministerial-level communication to build stronger Korea-UK economic cooperative ties going forward.

Minister Ahn viewed that Korea and the UK have established solid economic cooperative relations as partners that share core values of free democracy and market economy, with the two countries’ globally competitive businesses in major advanced areas leading the economic ties based on vigorous investments and technology collaboration. 

He stated that their bilateral cooperation as trustworthy partners and friendly nations is all the more important in light of economic security issues and persisting geopolitical uncertainties, such as the Russia-Ukraine war.

Moreover, the minister conveyed Korea’s stance of looking forward to a stronger comprehensive bilateral partnership based on the full implementation of the joint ambitions declared in the Downing Street Accord, which was adopted on the occasion of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit last November. 

They also discussed measures to bolster the two countries’ economic and trade relations, including ways to make progress on negotiations for upgrading the Korea-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).