[Unofficial Translation]

Prime Minister Rutte and the people of the Netherlands,

Thank you for your warm hospitality.

It is a great pleasure and privilege to become the first Korean President to make a state visit to the Netherlands since our two countries established diplomatic relations.

Prime Minister Rutte and I held our fourth summit today. We noted the dynamic development of our bilateral relationship and agreed to work on taking it to a new height.

The Netherlands is a reliable friend and partner, having sent over 5,000 troops to defend Korea’s freedom and peace during the Korean War.

Our solidarity, forged in blood on battlefields some 70 years ago, has now evolved into a strategic partnership that encompasses all sectors, including security, the economy, culture and global agendas.

Last year, our bilateral trade reached a record high of US$16 billion. The Netherlands is our second largest trading partner in Europe and the biggest European investor in the Republic of Korea.

Building upon economic cooperation that has advanced rapidly at an unprecedented pace, our two countries will work together to respond to pressing economic security crises and defend the rules-based international order.

As the first state visit since the establishment of diplomatic relations offers up historic momentum, Prime Minister Rutte and I agreed to adopt a joint statement today to give shape to our bilateral strategic partnership and open a new chapter in Korea-Netherlands relations. Our strategic partnership can be traced back in part to the agreement that Prime Minister Rutte and I signed last November in Korea.

First, since both countries share core values, we agreed to strengthen our strategic cooperation in foreign affairs, security, national defense and the defense industry.

Our two countries agreed to hold annual policy consultation meetings at the deputy foreign minister level, apart from the ministerial dialogues, in order to further cement cooperation in the fields of foreign affairs and security.

We also agreed to solidify our partnership for technology security. Our two countries will co-host the second global Summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain next year in Seoul, following the first one this year. We will also continue to hold pan-government cyber policy consultations between Korea and the Netherlands to further in-depth discussions and cooperation.

Through this, our two countries will jointly serve a leading role in the formation of AI-related norms in the military domain and create a secure cyber environment.

Moreover, our two countries’ policy think tanks will establish a consultative body to carry out joint research projects on cyber- and maritime security, and a network of professionals will be created.

When it comes to national defense and defense industry cooperation, our two countries will sign the MOU on Defense Cooperation discussed at our summit last year during this state visit, and we also agreed to hold a joint Korea-Netherlands committee on defense industry and logistics. This will lay the institutional foundation for bilateral defense and security cooperation.

We will boost defense industry exchanges and business cooperation between Korea, which has unmatched capabilities in the defense industry, and the Netherlands, which has outstanding aerospace and marine science technologies.

Next, our two countries will enhance strategic communication and policy coordination in the areas of economic security and supply chains.

First of all, both countries agreed to establish a “semiconductor alliance” that encompasses our governments, businesses and universities.

The Netherlands – the world’s largest producer of semiconductor equipment – and Korea – a chipmaking powerhouse – hold key positions within global supply chains.

Our two countries intend to maximize the effectiveness and value of our semiconductor cooperation by combining our strengths.

On the occasion of this state visit, both governments signed three MOUs in the areas of semiconductors and economic security, and established three new consultative bodies. Our two countries signed an MOU on Cooperation for an Advanced Semiconductor Academy to jointly foster a young generation of semiconductor specialists as well as an MOU on Cooperating for Essential Items to jointly reduce supply chain vulnerabilities in semiconductors and other strategic industries.

We also launched a new Korea-Netherlands Semiconductor Dialogue, so both countries’ industrial authorities could better coordinate their semiconductor policies.

The Economic Security Dialogue, which will be newly launched based on an MOU on Cooperation for Economic Security between our countries’ diplomatic authorities, will strengthen our ability to respond to economic security crises and make our supply chains more resilient.

Our two countries will establish a new 2+2 ministerial dialogue which our foreign and industry ministers will hold biennially.

This will significantly contribute to expanding bilateral trade and commerce as well as strategic cooperation on economic security and supply chains, including semiconductors.

Third, both countries agreed to deepen forward-looking cooperation in the energy sector.

In order to achieve the common goal of carbon neutrality, our two countries will strengthen cooperation in the field of carbon-free energy, including nuclear power.

We agreed to give shape to cooperation in the entire nuclear power cycle, including nuclear power plant construction and operation, SMR development and nuclear fuels, as well as to expand collaboration between governments, businesses and research institutions in the fields of offshore wind power and hydrogen.

Fourth, both countries will continue to cooperate closely on future strategic technologies.

In particular, Korea and the Netherlands will explore new cooperation in such cutting-edge fields as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

To this end, we will actively promote joint research and people-to-people exchanges between researchers from both countries based on an MOU on Korea-Netherlands ICT Cooperation.

Fifth, our two countries will deepen substantive cooperation in the fields of smart farming and logistics.

Korea and the Netherlands will expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, including smart farming and the fostering of young farmers.

Moreover, we will further strengthen bilateral logistics cooperation through the building of a cold chain logistics center in the Port of Rotterdam – Korea’s first in Europe – by 2027 and through the introduction of a fully unmanned port system at Busan New Port.

Sixth, Korea and the Netherlands will encourage youth exchanges and promote cultural exchanges.

We will double the number of working holiday participants by revising the relevant Korea-Netherlands MOU and expand exchanges between young people who will be driving our future relations.

Our two countries will expand various forms of two-way cultural exchanges and work together to promote Korean studies research, the dissemination of the Korean language and bilateral tourism.

Seventh, both countries will continue to enhance strategic cooperation to safeguard the rules-based international order.

In this context, Prime Minister Rutte and I exchanged a wide range of opinions today on various regional and global strategic issues, including North Korea’s nuclear program.

The Netherlands has supported the Republic of Korea’s position by continuously condemning North Korea’s illegal nuclear weapons development and various provocations. At the same time, it has also shared our view that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a serious threat to security on the Korean Peninsula as well as in Asia and Europe. This is highly appreciated.

Our two countries will work closely together to ensure that the international community makes a stern, unified response to North Korea’s violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The Netherlands has denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a clear violation of international law and demonstrated strong and consistent support for Ukraine.

Our two countries will continue to support the restoration of freedom and peace in Ukraine and actively work together on the rebuilding of the nation.

The Netherlands is an important partner that Korea must work with to realize its vision of becoming a global pivotal state and to contribute to the Indo-Pacific region’s freedom, peace and prosperity.

Korea and the Netherlands will jointly contribute to global peace and prosperity by building upon our experiences prevailing over geographical and geopolitical challenges and writing new chapters in our histories of innovation and success.

I am convinced that all of this will benefit the people of both countries and also contribute to world peace and prosperity.

The cooperation measures that the Prime Minister and I have discussed and agreed upon will be faithfully implemented one by one in close partnership with the Dutch government.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Dutch government once more for its invitation and warm hospitality.