Iran Press/ Iran News: The Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met this morning with the Prime Minister of South Korea, Chung Sye-Kyun.
Pointing out that the bilateral relations between Iran and South Korea should return to before 2018, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran said: "Nations know their friends in difficult days. Therefore, the expectations of the Iranian people from South Korea have not been met yet.”
"We believe that the vast, ancient and historic continent of Asia has great potential," Ghalibaf said. “Therefore, expanding convergence among Asian countries is an important strategy in the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy.”
Referring to the good relations between the two countries and expressing satisfaction with the Prime Minister of South Korea's visit to Tehran, Ghalibaf added: "Unfortunately, Korea currently has no place in Iran's foreign economic relations. In other words, economic and political relations, which were at the highest levels between the two countries, have declined."
He added: "Our expectation from you is to provide immediate and practical solutions to solve the problem of Iran's foreign exchange resources and to release our blocked money. South Korea has not met this expectation of the Iranian people.”
Qalibaf then called the Korean Prime Minister's visit to Tehran an appropriate step to improve relations between the two countries.
He said: "I hope this trip will be the resumption of political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations."
"Of course, I have visited Iran in the past years as the speaker of the parliament," said South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun, noting that he is the first prime minister to visit Iran in 44 years.
"I met with high-ranking Iranian officials, so I hope this trip will be the beginning of good relations with Iran again," a Korean official added.
Noting that next year coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Iran and South Korea, he said: "In Korean culture, the numbers 60 and 70 are important so that next year could be the beginning of good relations between the two countries.
"Referring to the good historical relations between the two countries, the Prime Minister of South Korea added: "Undoubtedly, the traveling of the officials of the two countries has led to the preservation of these relations; But unfortunately, since 2018, the relations between the two countries had faced problems, which we are trying to solve."
He noted: "I believe that Iran and South Korea, as two Asian countries, should maintain and strengthen their relations."
Noting that several South Korean economic and political officials are present during their visit to Iran to find solutions for relations between the two countries, he said: "Considering the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Korea's foreign relations, every effort will be made to overcome problems.”
The Prime Minister of South Korea noted: "I hope you accept the invitation of the Speaker of our Parliament to visit Korea because this trip can be the beginning of new relations between the two countries."
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