Korea, Jordan to cooperate on atomic plant, waterway construction

By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Jordanian King
Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein held summit talks in Seoul Monday and agreed to help
South Korean companies seeking to participate in Jordan's infrastructure
projects, Lee's office said in a statement.

The Jordanian king arrived in South Korea on Sunday for a three-day state visit
aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
"King Abdullah explained his government's plans to construct nuclear power
plants, a waterway linking the Red and Dead seas and desalination facilities and
asked for South Korean companies' participation in such projects," said the
statement.
"In response, Lee promised to help South Korean firms take part in the Jordanian
infrastructure projects," said the statement.
Following the talks, Lee and Abdullah observed their Cabinet ministers sign
memorandums of understanding on closer bilateral cooperation in atomic power
generation and waterway construction, while the two countries' trade and commerce
promotion agencies concluded separate MOUs on closer two-way cooperation,
according to presidential officials.
The resource-poor Jordan plans to build several nuclear power plants with the aim
of increasing the atomic portion of its power generation to 30 percent by 2040.
The Middle Eastern nation also plans to spend about US$5 billion over the next
decade on the construction of a waterway between the Dead and Red seas. The
waterway project is aimed at addressing the declining water level of the Dead
Sea.
South Korea and Jordan established diplomatic relations in 1962.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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