site.btaPrime Minister Borissov Pays Official Visit to Republic of Korea

Seoul, September 25 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, who is paying an official visit to the Republic of Korea between September 24 and 27, laid a wreath at the main memorial tower of Seoul National Cemetery on Wednesday. He paid tribute to the memory of Korean nationals who died as members of the national independence movement in the Korean War and in the Vietnam War.

Later in the day, Borissov visited Hyundai Motor Group's Powertrain R&D Center in Hwaseong.

The centre was built in 1993 on an area of 3.47 million square metres and is equipped with design and engineering facilities, as well as driving routes and test facilities. It consists of various zones, mainly connected to design and engineering, performance testing and propulsion facilities, and a centre for future automotive technology. It employs around 10,000 engineers, designers and other staff.

Taking a reporter's question if the Republic of Korea is going to invest in the automotive industry in Bulgaria, Borissov said such decisions are mostly made by the large companies' boards of directors. "We have submitted our offers here. They came to Bulgaria, we came here. It will happen if we like each other and it is to the mutual benefit," said the Prime Minister. He added that Bulgaria manufactures quite a few things for Hyundai even now.

Borissov said that two-way trade increased considerably after Korea's Prime Minister visited Bulgaria. He believes that "bilateral relations will develop on a higher level" after the current visit and that Sofia should develop tourism contacts with Seoul.

Later in the day, Borissov visited the Kukkiwon taekwondo training centre.

Borissov's visit to the Republic of Korea is the first by a Bulgarian prime minister to the Asian country. It is aimed at broadening bilateral cooperation and coincides with the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On the official delegation are Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov, Transport, IT and Communications Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov, and Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov. DS/DT,DD