Kurdistan Parliament delegation visits Seoul to discuss bilateral relations with South Korea
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A parliamentary delegation from the Kurdistan Region met on Wednesday with South Korea’s head of parliament and several lawmakers in Seoul to discuss bilateral relations.
Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami headed the Kurdish delegation which arrived in Seoul on Tuesday at the official invitation of South Korea. The parliamentary delegation also included several lawmakers from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
In Seoul , heading @KurdistanParl delegation which consist of head of KDP, and PUK blocks to visit South Korean at the invitation of Korean parliament.We were received officially by a delegation from Korean Parliamnt which consisted of 3 MPs. Assessed current level of joint work. pic.twitter.com/vztfatQHqV
— Hemin Hawrami (@heminhawrami) October 1, 2019
On Wednesday, the Kurdistan delegation met with Moon Hee-sang, Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly.
In Seoul.Privileged to meet Moon Hee-sang Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly. Outlined @KurdistanParl work & priorities in enhancing parliamnt diplomacy & sharing expireiwnces for more active legislation & overnighting executive powers.Thanked Korea for their support pic.twitter.com/GzQqlkz6jO
— Hemin Hawrami (@heminhawrami) October 2, 2019
“We extended our gratitude for the official invitation,” Hawrami told Kurdistan 24. “Furthermore, we briefly discussed recent developments in Kurdistan and the duties of its parliament members.”
“We requested the South Korean Parliament to strengthen ties with Kurdistan in terms of economy and encourage Korean companies to invest in the region,” he added.
According to Hawrami, further coordination and exchanges of experience between parliamentarians from both sides was another segment of the discussion.
The visit marks the first official invitation from South Korea to the Kurdistan Region’s Parliament to fortify relations and economic trade between the two sides.
The Kurdistan Parliament said in a statement that the visit is meant to help Erbil “familiarize itself with South Korea’s long parliamentary experience.”
South Korea has provided humanitarian assistance to the autonomous Kurdish region since 2014, including in the education, health, infrastructure, and economy sectors. Moreover, cooperation between Erbil and Seoul remain strong.
South Korea upgraded its representative office in Erbil to a Consulate-General in 2016.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany