His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to receive in audience a special envoy representing South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak.

Special envoy Gong Sung Jin along with Hwang Young Cheul delivered a letter to His Majesty for the upcoming "Asean-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit 2009".

The audience took place at the Istana Nurul Iman. Pehin Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Pengiran Dato Paduka Hj Osman bin Pengiran Hj Petra and Datin Paduka Hjh Maimunah bte Dato Paduka Hj Elias, Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade were present during the audience.

Also present were Mr Kim Dae-Sik, the Korean Ambasador to Brunei Darussalam and Mr Ko Hong-Seok, Counsellor at the Korean Embassy.

At the meeting, Special envoy Gong Sung Jin and Hwang Young-Cheul briefed His Majesty on the theme of the upcoming summit.

The special envoy also conveyed the Korean president's personal message to His Majesty. The Korean president is looking forward to meeting His Majesty in South Korea during the summit.

The special envoy explained that among the agendas at the summit would be issues like the global financial crisis, climate change and diseases.

The slogan for this year's Commemorative Summit is "Partnership for real, Friendship for good". The slogan symbolises the policies of Asean, ties between Korea and Asean countries, and to share closer friendship through more frequent cultural and individual exchanges.

Brunei and Korea have maintained a very strong relationship in trade, such as in energy cooperation. Korea has been a strong importer of Brunei petroleum and gas products, while Brunei has not only become a big importer of Korean products, but Korea has been a key source for Brunei in terms of tourist arrivals. - Borneo Bulletin (15th May 2009)