- Access to the blue ocean has been key to the transformation of both our economies.: Norway envoy Solverg

With both countries’ 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea & Norway as a momentum, the two nations foresees the forthcoming 600 years ahead as more many years to cooperate, according to the speech delivered by H.E. Norway Amb. Frode Solverg.

In a diplomatic reception to commemorate Norway and Korea: 60 years of blue collaboration as well as Norway Constitution Day held in a downtown hotel Seoul last Friday evening (May 17th), Norway envoy Frode Solverg & Mme. threw a dinner reception for the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. & Korean friends & partners who maintain close friendships & partnerships with the Embassy of Norway.

Norway envoy Frode Solverg(center) posing with guests during the fete to commemorate diplomatic ties 60th anniversary between Korea & Norway as well as its Constitution Day.

Touching upon first of all that in 2019 Norway and the Republic of Korea mark 60 years of diplomatic relations, the blue ocean is a corner stone of our past, present and future collaboration, said Solverg.

Access to the blue ocean has been key to the transformation of both our economies, according to the envoy. Life by the ocean has given us a special expertise, which our maritime industries have used in partnership, to create improvement in our people’s lives, he added.

According to the Embassy of Norway, both countries’ economies today are highly integrated. So every day Norwegian technology is in use at Korean yards, building world class ships and maritime installations. Every day Korean cars are transported to their markets onboard Norwegian owned boats, many of which are also built in Korea. On Korean dinner tables Norwegian sea food is often seen. And every year the number of Korean tourists to Norway increases, just as the number of Norwegian students in South Korea is going up.

In terms of trade, in 2017 the Republic of Korea was Norway’s 5th largest trading partner (only Sweden, US, China and Germany was bigger). While maritime, ship-building and sea food has dominated our trade, we are now expanding into renewable energy, green growth and Arctic affairs, Frode pinpointed.

South Korea and Equinor will collaborate in exploring opportunities for commercial floating offshore wind farms in South Korea, according to the Commercial Wing, Embassy of Norway.

Last but not least, NORMASH – the roots of the two nations’ Friendship can’t be neglected in the history of the two countries. So the roots of the friendship between the two peoples goes back to the field hospital Norway sent in 1951, to assist the UN forces in Korea. The presence of the Norwegians during this hard time created strong bonds between Koreans and Norwegians and has resulted in friendship and cooperation between the two countries. A total of 623 Norwegians served at NORMASH and a total of 90,000 patients were treated there.

With regard to shared global values and interest, based on common values and shared interests, Norway and the Republic of Korea are actively cooperating for peace, human rights and international development. Healthy oceans are key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Managed in a sustainable way, the ocean economy will provide 40 million jobs and double its contribution to global value creation by 2030.

Our expertise from life by the sea gives us a special responsibility to contribute to the sustainable management of oceans globally, says Frode. Current threats to the health of the oceans includes climate change, marine litter and pollution as well as illegal and unregulated fishing. These are all areas where the future blue partnership of Norway and South Korea will be of vital importance, according to the Embassy of Norway.

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