It is with great pleasure that I wish you all a happy New Year full of happiness and success in your personal and professional lives.

Korea along with other nations around the world has experienced many unforeseen consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, impact of supply chain disruptions and new geopolitical challenges to the rules-based international order, nevertheless I wish that we would approach the next year with a sound belief in wider personal and public prosperity, ascending economic growth and increased economic security.

The Embassy of Latvia looks forward to starting the New Year with high hopes of building a new fundamental bridge of friendship, growth and prosperity linking the markets and peoples of Latvia and Korea together. To take a new leap in our friendship, expanding and deepening dialogue and cooperation more at the senior level is a prerequisite and nothing can substitute summit diplomacy in improving bilateral relations. In this context, it is my sincere wish and hope that there will be a visit to Latvia by Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol next year, making him the first sitting Korean President to visit Latvia. Not only will it be an essential instrument in bringing forward movement in our bilateral relations, but inject fresh momentum into our cooperation and create many great opportunities for both countries. With the advent of a new government in Latvia, there will be no better time than now to make such visit to Latvia to testify the deep mutual respect and friendship that exists between our two countries and chart a new path forward together.

While wishing for peace and prosperity to our nations, one cannot forget about the fact that an unprovoked and unjustified war is being waged by Russia and enabled by Belarus in the European neighborhood against the sovereign and independent country of Ukraine. We should stand in solidarity with Ukrainian people who are faced with Russia’s criminal aggression, killings and torturing of civilians, brutal destruction of homes, lives and infrastructure on daily basis. Civilized world must unite to stop Russian aggression, help Ukraine to fight for their freedom ultimately achieving the peace by respecting Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Let’s hope for a peaceful 2023 and brighter and happier times ahead.