Prime Minister Han Deok-soo visits three countries in Latin America... Reinforcement of resource cooperation and exhibition bid

Prime Minister Han Deok-soo will go on a tour of three countries in Latin America, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, and 7 nights from the 9th to the 17th. Prime Minister Han arrived at Seoul International Airport in Seongnam on the afternoon of the 9th and is boarding Air Force Unit 1. [사진=연합뉴스]

Prime Minister Han Deok-soo went on a tour of three countries in Central and South America, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina on the 9th, 7 nights and 9 days. The purpose is to come up with a plan to strengthen cooperation on resources such as strategic minerals with Latin American countries.

Prime Minister Han left Seoul Airport at 3:15 p.m. on the same day for a tour of the Air Force No. 1 flight.

During this visit, Prime Minister Han will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in resources such as strategic minerals with Latin American countries. The South American countries we are visiting are major sources of global resources and food.

Prime Minister Han will first visit Santiago, the capital of Chile, on the 10th and 12th local time. Chile is Korea’s first free trade agreement (FTA) signatory (effective in 2004) and a major ally in Latin America. It is the first visit by a South Korean leader to Chile in seven years since former President Park Geun-hye in 2015.

Chile, a representative mineral resource-rich country, is the world’s largest copper producer. The production of strategic minerals lithium and molybdenum ranks second in the world.

Prime Minister Han will meet with Chilean President Gabriel Boric and discuss ways to deepen the bilateral relationship, which marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, into a ‘comprehensive cooperative partnership for common prosperity in the 21st century’.

Prime Minister Han also attends the special session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held in Santiago to deliver a keynote speech. ECLAC is a regional economic committee representing Latin America and the Caribbean among the five regional committees under the United Nations.

After Chile, Prime Minister Han will visit Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, for two days and one night. Uruguay is the chair country of the ‘South American Common Market’ (Mercosur) in the second half of this year. It is the first visit by a South Korean leader to Uruguay in 11 years since former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik in 2011.

Prime Minister Han will hold a meeting with Uruguay’s President Luis Racaye Pou to discuss ways of cooperation to strengthen economic and trade relations between South Korea and Latin America.

In addition, it plans to speed up negotiations on the Mercosur Economic Agreement (TA) with Korea, which has been stagnant, and use it as an opportunity to increase access to Uruguay with a population of 260 million.

Prime Minister Han will make an official visit to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, for three days and two nights. It is the first official visit by a South Korean leader to Argentina in 18 years since former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004.

Argentina ranks 3rd in lithium reserves and 4th in production. Argentina also accounts for 40% of Korea’s corn imports and 33% of soybean oil imports as of last year. Prime Minister Han meets with Argentine President Alberto Angel Fernandez and attends a business meeting between the two countries.

During this tour, Prime Minister Han is planning to meet with the heads of countries visiting the country and ask them to support the bid for the 2030 World Expo (Expo) in Busan. This visit will also be accompanied by business leaders such as POSCO President Jeong Tak and Hyundai Motor Group Vice President Kim Dong-wook.

The Prime Minister’s Office said, “Among the 170 member countries of the International Exposition Organization (BIE), 29 Latin American countries account for about 17%.” explained.