By Lee Jon Young

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is in New York to attend the 78th High-level Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held his first meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani on the morning of September 22.

During the meeting, President Yoon requested Iraq's support for the 2030 Busan World Expo and exchanged views on ways to further develop bilateral relations.

President Yoon noted that Iraq is our key infrastructure partner and that Korean companies have participated in major national projects in Iraq, including refineries, ports, new cities, and air bases, since the construction of the Umm Qasr Wharf in Iraq in 1977. 

President Yoon also requested the prime minister's interest and support for the early resumption of the 'Bismayah New City Project', one of the key infrastructure projects between the two countries.

Prime Minister Sudani said that the participation of Korean companies in Iraq's reconstruction and national development is crucial, and he hoped to strengthen bilateral relations through cooperation with the Korean government and companies in more areas. 

In particular, he expressed his desire for Korean companies to participate in the construction of corridor roads connecting Iraq to Turkestan and Europe, as well as in the construction of base cities, refineries, and petrochemical plants.

The Korea-Iraq summit was the first summit with Prime Minister Sudani, and is considered to be an opportunity to show Iraq's support and interest in Korean companies and people in Iraq and to set the stage for a leap forward in bilateral relations.