-Belgium Princess Astrid’s official visit to Korea was picked as the most impressive event
Belgium Princess Astrid’s official visit to The Republic of Korea was
picked as the most
impressive event for bilateral relations between Korea & Belgium
this year which marks 116th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Belgium Amb. Adrien Theatre (sixth from left, front row) commemorates Belgium King's Day while being surrounded by envoys from the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. |
The 2017 Belgium King’s Day reception which was served as an opportunity to
commemorate 116th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the
two countries as well, was held at the Seoul Millennium Hilton on
Nov. 15th evening while the occasion awakens similar conditions
between the two nations such as the well functioning geographical
hub of transportation, the sufficient and well-built infrastructure, the advanced service industry, the export-driven economic structure and the excellent workforce, to name just a few.
Touching upon Korea-Belgium relations that started in 1901 with
the establishment
of diplomatic ties and have been steadily & dynamically strengthening,
Belgium Amb. Adrien Theatre said that trade between the two countries
has been on the rise since the conclusion of the Korea-European Union FTA.
Ambassadors' spouses marking Belgium King's Day on the podium during the opening ceremony. |
The visit to the ROK in June by the Belgian economic delegation
led by Princess Astrid had been very productive in various areas,
including small- and medium-sized enterprises, finance, food and logistics, which helped promote
bilateral relations to a great extent, Adrien added. MOFA deputy
minister Noh Kyu-duk who attended as guest honor to deliver his remarks, pinpointed:
“The first ROK-Belgium foreign ministerial meeting held last month in six years since
October 2011 is seen to have served as an opportunity to further
strengthen the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries.”
Belgium Amb. couple with their daughter (second from right) attending in SIWA Bazzar at the Belgium booth. |
According to Noh, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
and European Affairs Didier Reynders of Belgium in Brussels on
October 20. In their meeting, the two top diplomats exchanged views
on ways that the Republic of Korea and Belgium can step up
substantive cooperation; respond jointly to the North Korean
nuclear program and situations in other regions; and work together
on the international stage.
According to the MOFA as well, bringing attention to the progress
in the preparations for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games, Kang asked Belgium to take an active
part in the event. On behalf of the government as well as Foreign
Minister Kang, Noh officially asked Belgium Princess to revisit Korea
for the attendence of the event on Feb. next year.
Dr. Marie-Helene Brasseur, flanked left MOFA deputy minister Noh & right Belgium Amb. Adrien Theatre who was bestowed in recognition of her medical service for Korean soceity to bolster bilateral relations |
Dr. Marie-Helene Brasseur was bestowed from Belgium Amb. Adrien Theatre
on behalf of the Belgium King Philippe in recognition of her
contribution regarding medical service for Korean society to bolster
bilateral relations between Korea & Belgium. For reference, Philippe
is the seventh King of the Belgians, having ascended the throne on
21 July 2013, following his father's abdication. He is the eldest
child of King Albert II, whom he succeeded upon Albert's abdication
for health reasons, and Queen Paola. He married Countess Mathilde
d'Udekem d'Acoz (now Queen Mathilde), with whom he has four
children. King Philippe's elder daughter, Princess Elisabeth, is
first in the line of succession.