1. A special delegation of the President, headed by Mr. Im Jong-seok, the President’s Special Advisor for Foreign Affairs to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), visited the UAE on February 18-20. On February 19, the delegation met with Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority Khaldoon Al Mubarak and extensively discussed ways for cooperation between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the UAE.

° Special envoy Im and Chairman Khaldoon agreed to strengthen the special strategic partnership between the ROK and the UAE in 2020, the year marking the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of the ROK-UAE diplomatic relations.

° In addition, the two sides, attaching significance to the fueling of the Barakah nuclear power plant unit one slated for March, discussed ways to step up strategic cooperation in various substantive areas, including future energy sources and national defense.

2. Later in the day, on the afternoon of February 19, the special delegation paid a courtesy call on Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

° Crown Prince Mohammed underscored the significance of the ROK-UAE special strategic partnership and asked the ROK’s special delegation to relay special regards to President Moon Jae-in.