According to Yonhap News,
(SEOUL=Yonhap News) Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday voiced his hopes for new business opportunities through bilateral economic cooperation with South Korea, calling the relationship between the two countries dynamic.
During a dinner gathering of business leaders and top government officials from both countries, Rutte also stressed that the two countries, which he said are open and interconnected, can cooperate in many areas such as energy, security and health care.
The gathering followed his summit with South Korean President Park Geun-hye during which the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership. This year the two countries mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.
During the dinner event, Rutte pointed to a long history of bilateral relations as he mentioned Hendrick Hamel, a Dutchman who came to Korea in the 1600s, and the Netherlands' participation in the 1950-53 Korean War.
Hamel is known to have stayed in Korea for some 13 years from 1653 after becoming a castaway during a typhoon on his voyage to Japan. After his return to the Netherlands, he wrote a journal through which he introduced Korea to the world.
The Netherlands is one of the 16 countries that sent combat forces to the war -- the first major armed conflict of the Cold War -- in support of South Korea. Of the total 5,322 troops it deployed to the Korean Peninsula during the war, 123 were killed in action or went missing.
Rutte began his four-day trip to South Korea on Monday, marking his first visit to the Asian country since his inauguration in October 2010. He is reciprocating Park's visit to the European nation in March 2014.
The Dutch leader came here along with his country's business contingent of some 60 companies.
Two-way trade reached US$8.37 billion last year, with South Korea exporting mobile phones, cars and other items and importing equipment for semiconductor production, scrap metal and other goods.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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Source: Yonhap News (Sep. 27, 2016)