​(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

President Reuven Rivlin today (Sunday 23 December 2018), held a working meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea, Moon Hee-sang.
 
The president welcomed the speaker on his first visit to Israel and said, “Our countries are on different sides of the globe, but we have much in common. That is the strength behind our friendship. Korea’s impressive abilities in the field of R&D and technology and Israeli innovation make us natural partners.” The president also said he was happy to see the good relations between the two parliaments and that there is more to be done to deepen the relations between the countries. “The Middle East is changing. Today, relations between Israel and Arab states are not necessarily a zero-sum game. All of us can benefit from improved relations,” he said in conclusion.
 
The speaker of the South Korean parliament thanked the president for his warm welcome and stressed the importance of cooperation between the countries. “As you said, our two countries have a lot in common. We have both overcome difficult histories. Through education and democracy, we have become an example to the world. You visited us in 2002 but much has changed since them. Our two economies fit together well, and if we hold hands we can make progress together in many fields.”
 
The speaker invited the president to visit South Korea, and the president thanked him for the invitation and said that he would be happy to do so at the first opportunity.