President Mohamed Nasheed met with Dr Soogil Young, Special Envoy appointed by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, today.
At the meeting held at the President’s Office this morning, the South Korean President’s Special Envoy Dr Soogil Young conveyed President Lee’s personal regard and appreciation for President Nasheed’s “life long commitment to democracy” as well as his commitment of environmental sustainability of human civilization.
He also expressed the South Korean President’s gratitude for “excellent relationship between both countries” and his desire to further strengthen the relationship in more areas.
President Lee’s Special Envoy underscored that the South Korean President’s commitment to “fight climate change along with the Maldives” and cease opportunities for new growth dynamisms in response to climate change.
South Korean Special Envoy Dr Soogil Young shared with President Nasheed, his South Korean counterpart’s efforts to propagate his efforts to address climate at the international level, highlighting the establishment of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in Seoul last year.
GGGI is a globally represented, non-profit institute dedicated to the promotion of economic growth and development while reducing carbon emissions, increasing sustainability, and strengthening climate resilience.
The Special Envoy of the South Korean President declared South Korea’s willingness to establish a “very meaningful partnership between the Maldives and South Korea” to work towards a post-Kyoto Protocol agreement of climate change.
He said South Korea wished to work with the Maldives to institutionalise key points highlighted by President Nasheed in COP15, held in Copenhagen in 2009, in materialising a successful post-Kyoto Protocol agreement.
Speaking at the meeting, President Nasheed noted that the Maldives being one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, environment and climate change were central to the Maldives’ development and foreign policies.
He also declared his desire to collaborate with South Korea at both international and national levels in addressing climate change.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Naseem, President’s Foreign Policy Advisor Dr Ahmed Shaheed, National Security Advisor Ameen Faisal and Political Affairs Advisor of the President Mohamed Shihab.
