According to Yonhap News,

(SEOUL=Yonhap News) South Korea and Chile have agreed to speed up bilateral cooperation on the information, communication and technology (ICT) front, as the Latin American nation seeks to learn from Seoul's experience, a government ministry here said Thursday.

Choi Jae-you, vice minister of science, ICT and future planning, attended a ceremony in Santiago commemorating World Information Society Day earlier this week.

He delivered a keynote speech at the event and met with top local officials in charge of ICT-related policy, said the ministry.

"South Korea and Chile, located the most far away by distance, can become the closest neighbors in the cyber world," Choi said.

He also gave a briefing on South Korea's experience in developing the ICT industry and relevant policy.

Chile is trying to advance the ICT industry in a bid to avert a drawn-out economic slump due to falling copper prices to raise its national competitiveness.

For South Korean firms, Chile is a bridgehead for expanding their ICT business in the region.

President Park Geun-hye made a visit to Chile last year during which the two sides agreed to strengthen partnerships in ICT.

lcd@yna.co.kr

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