Congratulatory Remarks 
                                              by H.E. Cho Tae-yong, 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
                                                                  at the 44th National Day Reception 
                                                                        of the Sultanate of Oman
                                                                  
                                                                                    November 18, 2014


Your Excellency Mohamed Al-Harthy,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honored to have this opportunity to speak on behalf of the people and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the occasion of the 44th National Day of the Sultanate of Oman.

In recent years, Oman has been successfully making remarkable progress both internally and externally. All of us here today are very proud to count Oman as a close friend of ours.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said places the greatest national priority on the well-being of the Omani people. In return, the Omani people fully support his leadership. As a result, Oman is opening up a new era of a "Blessed Renaissance."

Now the people of Oman are enjoying higher employment and better quality of life than ever before. These achievements are clearly reflected in the 2010 Human Development Report. According to this report, Oman achieved the most excellent results in education and public health for the years from 1970 to 2010.

In its foreign relations, Oman has been shaping its positive profile. Oman is also contributing to peace in the region by maintaining domestic stability. Oman is also playing a valuable role as a mediator, in particular in the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.

Distinguished Guests and Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Oman. Over the forty years, our two countries have continued to foster bonds of friendship and cooperation.

In fact, our friendship has a longer history. The relations between our two peoples date back to a thousand years ago. A thousand years ago traders from Oman visited Goryeo(고려), an ancient Korean kingdom and brought the aromatic resin for which Oman is famous throughout the world - frankincense.

That was a first small step for trade and cultural exchanges between us. Now, centuries later, we are proud to say that the ties between us are closer, richer and wider than ever before. Korea is the largest purchaser of Omani natural gas and Oman is Korea's third-largest gas supplier.

Distinguished Guests and Ladies and Gentlemen,

Yet our strong friendship extends far beyond the realm of economic cooperation. This was vividly demonstrated in 2011, when Oman assisted in rescuing the Korean citizens who had been taken hostage by Somali pirates.

Last month, a Korean naval vessel even went to Muscat, the capital of Oman for the hosting of a reception celebrating the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. At the reception, Korean traditional music was played to the Omani people.

It is my sincere hope that these efforts will gain even further momentum to upgrade our relationship. Our ties are continuing to be strengthened not only in the areas in which we have traditionally cooperated such as energy and construction but also in such areas as healthcare, renewable energy and public safety.

Your Excellency Al-Harthy, Distinguished guests and Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to bring my remarks to a close by extending my sincere best wishes for the continued health and happiness of His Majesty, for the even further development of the bilateral relations, and for an everlasting friendship between our two countries.

Shukran Jazilan! /The End/