Korean ambassador to PH pays visit to Duterte

DAVAO CITY—The Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-shin on Thursday paid a visit to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and vowed to strengthen the ties of the two countries.

In an interview with reporters outside the presidential guest house here, Ambassador Kim said Duterte’s tough anticrime stance encouraged Korean business persons to invest in the Philippines.

“I think many of the Koreans want to do business in the Philippines so it will be very easy to convince Korean businessmen to come to the Philippines,” Kim said.

Ambassador Kim added that his country would donate $6.6 million to the Philippine National Police for the purchase of police equipment such as patrol cars and motorbikes.

He said the Korean government would also invest in the construction of the Panguil Bay Bridge that would connect Tangub and Tubod cities with the hope that it would “contribute to the development of Northern Mindanao.”

Kim added that the Korean government was also involved in the negotiation for the Davao railway project.

The Korean ambassador said their government would also uphold the existing defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines.

“Our defense cooperation in the field of defense industry is also very important. We’ll strengthen our cooperation,” Kim said.

He said he paid the President-elect a visit to congratulate him.

“I expressed my issues to the President and (he) also agreed with my point and both of our countries will closely cooperate for a mutually beneficial way,” Kim said.