National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, who is on an official visit to Croatia, met with the Croatian president and prime minister on October 9, local time, to discuss ways to cooperate in areas such as energy and the defense industry.

Meeting with Croatian President Zoran Milanović at the presidential palace in the capital city of Zagreb that day, Speaker Cho said, "Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, our two countries have steadily developed friendly and cooperative ties, and I am pleased that active high-level exchanges have been taking place since the relationship was upgraded to a 'Comprehensive Future-oriented Partnership' in 2023."

Noting that as many as 400,000 South Koreans visit Croatia each year, he emphasized, "I hope that a bilateral working holiday agreement will be signed soon so that free travel among young people and exchanges between future generations can be invigorated."

President Milanović said, "I am impressed by South Korea's achievements in attaining remarkable development in democracy, economy, science and technology, and industry despite geopolitical challenges."

In a meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Speaker Cho said, "Next year marks the meaningful 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries," adding, "I look forward to our bilateral cooperation deepening and expanding further across various sectors, including economy, industry, culture, and national defense."

Mentioning in particular Croatia's supply contract for the South Korean-made multiple launch rocket system Chunmoo, he called it "an important advance in bilateral cooperation," and added, "The National Assembly will pay close attention and provide support so that constructive cooperation can also be realized in the railway and transportation modernization projects that Croatia is pursuing."

In response, Prime Minister Plenković said, "I fully agree with your wish for bilateral cooperation to increase across various fields," adding, "We think highly of South Korea's defense industry capabilities, and this Chunmoo contract will have a positive impact on Croatia's defense system."

On that day, Speaker Cho visited the Homeland Monument in Croatia to lay flowers and held a dinner meeting with local business leaders and members of the Korean diaspora at a hotel in Zagreb.

On October 10, local time, he will attend a luncheon hosted by the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament.
 
(Photo: Yonhap News, courtesy of the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly)