President Park Geun-hye on Thursday agreed with the Czech Republic Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka to raise the two countries’ relations to a strategic partnership.

The two leaders released a joint declaration, which outlines areas for closer collaboration, during their summit at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, which was convened to commemorate 25 years of bilateral diplomatic ties.
 

With the pact, the Czech Republic has become South Korea’s 20th strategic partner. The Eastern European country premier’s state visit to Korea was the first in 14 years. The last was the visit of Sobotka’s predecessor Milos Zeman, the incumbent Czech president, during the Kim Dae-jung administration.

The two countries signed memorandums of understanding for coordination in three major areas: foreign affairs interchange, defense and railways.

The rail sector accord says Korean firms will participate in the Czech Republic’s high-speed rail projects.

For other business sectors, Seoul expressed interest in Czech projects to establish nuclear power plants.

Prague is gearing up to expand its transport infrastructure as part of its efforts to reinforce economic growth by seeking to narrow the economic gap between its capital and relatively underdeveloped eastern region.

The two leaders also shared mutual concern over North Korea’s weapons programs and agreed to make joint efforts to improve the communist state’s human rights record.

Prime Minister Sobotka was accompanied by 70 high-profile officials and business leaders.

The Czech economy ranks 54th globally, with its per capita GDP reaching $18,985 (20.8 million won), 43rd, as of 2014.

During a press conference after the summit, Park said the counterpart’s successful transformation after the collapse of the Soviet-backed regime in Prague about 25 years ago would send a clear message to Pyongyang.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)