President Moon Jae-in on Monday attended a ceremony marking the completion of the United Arab Emirates’ first nuclear reactor, as he continues efforts to improve ties with the Middle Eastern state.

The reactor, located in Barakah, was built by Korean engineers in a multibillion-dollar project won in 2009. 

Moon was accompanied by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

According to Cheong Wa Dae, the trip and the crown prince’s presence highlight the importance the Barakah plant has for both Korea and the UAE.

“Today’s ceremony is very special. Eight members of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, including the crown prince, took part in the ceremony, which is a very rare occasion in the UAE. That shows how great their expectations are for nuclear cooperation and cooperation between the two countries,” said Kim Hyun-chul, special adviser to President Moon for economic affairs.

“The Barakah reactors have indeed been barakah,” Moon said earlier in an interview with Emirates News Agency. “Barakah” means “blessings from God” in Arabic.

In the interview, Moon stressed that the two sides must seek “future-oriented cooperation” that goes beyond cooperation in energy and construction-related areas.

Moon’s trip to Barakah came a day after his summit meeting with al-Nahyan. At the meeting, the two sides agreed to raise the status of bilateral relations to that of special strategic partnership. Aside from the UAE, India is the only other country with which Seoul has a special strategic partnership.

At the summit meeting, Moon and the crown prince also agreed to establish a vice minister-level body for foreign affairs and defense cooperation.

According to Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff Im Jong-seok, who returned to Seoul from the UAE on Monday, Moon’s trip has been “very satisfactory.”

Speaking to reporters at Incheon Airport, Im said there will be “very good developments for our (Korean) businesses within the year” as a result of Moon’s trip.

He added that Moon and leaders of the UAE agreed to increase cooperation “in all areas” as part of the agreement to establish a relationship of special strategic partners.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)