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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The 11th Korea-Middle East Cooperation Forum, entitled "Building Comprehensive Partnership towards a New Horizon," kicked off in Amman today.

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ibrhaim Saif said in his opening remarks that Jordan and South Korea have distinguished ties that go back half a century, adding that the Kingdom is keen to forge closer ties with Korea in the interest of both the peoples.

He said that economic ties between the two countries are progressively developing as reflected by the growing trade exchange which stood at $1.45 billion at the end of 2013, pointing to the 19 bilateral agreements signed between Jordan and the east Asian nation covering the economic, technical, cultural, tourism, air transport and energy fields.

The minister also pointed to the growing partnership between Jordan and South Korea in the light of the developing ties between the two countries and the attractive investment climate in Jordan.

South Korea, he said, offered many grants, loans, assistance, training and scholarships through the cooperation agreement signed between the two countries, in addition to actively contributing to the establishment of a nuclear research reactor at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-Se said that his country has strong ties with the Middle East and contributes to support international efforts to bring about peace in the region.

He voiced the hope that the forum will help in boosting understanding on security and economy and build a partnership between his country and the Middle East.