Qatar"s King Hamad in Seoul

King Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-phani of Qatar arrived in Seoul on the afternoon of April 15 for a four-day state visit. President Kim Dae Jung extended the invitation earlier this year.
King Hamad will visit Chong Wa Dae on the morning of April 16 for a summit meeting with President Kim where they will discuss the Korean government's engagement policy towards North Korea and the ways to enlarge economic cooperation.
Taking the opportunity of King Hamad's visit, the government plans to ask the Qatar government's cooperation in the Ras Laffan gas field exploration project. The 9-billion-dollar construction project is being promoted by the Korean Gas Corporation, and Qatar will be solicited to participate in shares along with expanding the advances of Korean construction companies, a source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade anounced.
Korean construction companies such as LG and Hyundai are competing with foreign corporations in six construction projects in Qatar.
Both contries will sign an investment guarantee agreement and a memorandum of understanding(MOU) for the cooperation of the foreign offices during the King's visit.
Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr