Bulgarian president says he hopes to meet Yoon to discuss partnership in defense industry

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said he would like meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol in the near future and discuss ways to work together with South Korea in the defense industry, the National Assembly speaker's office said Tuesday.

Radev made the remarks in a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo at the presidential palace in the country's capital of Sofia on Monday (local time). Kim was in Bulgaria as part of a nine-day trip that also includes a stop in Croatia.

Radev was quoted as saying that Bulgaria is very interested in the FA-50 fighter jet and the K-2 tank that was exported to Poland recently, and that he hopes to meet with Yoon in person to discuss active cooperation in the sector.

During the meeting, Kim also delivered his support for Bulgaria's bid to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and asked for the country's support for Korean firms operating in the European country.

In response, Radev said he will request relevant government departments to provide support, while expressing hopes for more Korean companies in the information technology and other high-tech fields to do business in Bulgaria.

Ahead of the meeting, Kim met with his Bulgarian counterpart, Rosen Zhelyazkov, and requested for the country's support for Korean companies trying to participate in a nuclear reactor construction project in the northwestern town of Kozloduy.

He also proposed that Bulgaria sign the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF), a trade promotion partnership agreement, with South Korea, Kim's office said.

fairydust@yna.co.kr
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