Joint statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso on the election of Park Geun-hye as President of the Republic of Korea

EUROPEAN COUNCIL THE PRESIDENT		EN

Dear Ms Park,

On behalf of the European Union please accept our congratulations on your election as President of the Republic of Korea.

The Republic of Korea and the European Union are Strategic Partners. We believe that our partnership, based on shared values and common goals, can make a real difference also in addressing global challenges.

As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of diplomatic relations, we look forward to continuing work with you to further expand our cooperation, including in the economic field, and promote peace, security and respect for human rights.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet you to develop further our mutual priorities and the next stage in our relations.