By Lee Kap-soo

President Yoon Suk-yeol received ministerial delegations from six Caribbean countries who are in South Korea to attend the 13th Korea-Caribbean High Level Forum on Oct. 10.

The President said that although Korea and the countries of the Caribbean region are geographically far apart, they have shared the universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and are longtime friends who will share the future journey together.

The President and his counterparts from the six Caribbean countries noted that the Korea-Caribbean High-level Forum, which has been held every year since its inception in 2011, has allowed the two sides to actively discuss ways to cooperate in various fields such as green growth, health, and security, and that the forum is an opportunity to further solidify the foundation for cooperation between the two regions.

Recalling that he held bilateral meetings with a number of Caribbean countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September to discuss cooperation in various fields, including climate change, food security, IT, and capacity building, the President urged them to work together to further promote cooperation between the two regions.

Introducing Busan as a symbol of the resilience that led to the development of the Republic of Korea on the ruins of war, the President explained that the 2030 Busan World Expo will be a place of solidarity to share the world's science, history and culture, and asked for the support of the Caribbean countries. 

The leaders of the six Caribbean countries expressed their excitement for the planned visit to Busan and wished Korea the best in its endeavors.