Korean President Park Geun-hye’s visit to Colombia late last month as part of her four-nation tour of South America achieved concrete results in fortifying bilateral ties, Colombian Ambassador Tito Saul Pinilla told The Korea Herald last week.

Park’s visit produced five memorandums of understanding in defense, commerce, green energy, health care and education, fleshing out the strategic partnership reached in 2011.

The ambassador expressed his country’s appreciation while awaiting the approval of the bilateral free trade agreement, currently under Colombian constitutional review, which will likely come into force this year.

“President Park’s visit was very meaningful and valuable in consolidating our cooperation. We once again express our appreciation for her visit,” Pinilla stressed.

“The president also mentioned her commitment to closely observe the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc of Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru with deepening economic ties to Korea.”

A trade delegation of some 80 Korean companies accompanied the president to meet over 100 Colombian partners in a business forum in Bogota.

A provision on creating a business-friendly environment for foreign investors was signed, which would facilitate automated processing and trade between small and medium-sized enterprises.

“Colombia will be a stepping stone for Korean companies vying to secure a foothold in Latin America’s burgeoning electronic commercial market,” the ambassador highlighted. “Over the next five years, more than $3 billion is expected to be generated in this field.”

Korea also agreed to lend assistance to Colombia in upgrading and modernizing its customs and administration, currently done manually in many parts, using Korea’s advanced e-government expertise.

President Santos asked for Korean investment in electric cars and energy-independent villages, and President Park proposed pilot projects in those fields, Pinilla said. Colombia plans to be a continental hub in green transport and power cities with solar, wind and geothermal energies.

The two countries agreed to cooperate in infrastructure projects through a joint financing mechanism and information sharing. They would also collaborate on public health, human development and medical technology and medicine.

Emphasizing Colombia’s participation in the Korean War of 1950-53, in which some 5,300 Colombian soldiers fought, 131 died in combat, 476 were injured and 69 went missing, the former Air-Force-General-turned-ambassador underscored continuing defense cooperation between the two countries.

“Our security and defense partnership has been close since the Korean War, and in recent years, has expanded to technology-sharing, military officer exchange and personnel training,” Pinilla said.

“President Park paid respect to Colombia as the only Latin American country that has laid down lives in the war. Colombia can return favor by sharing our expertise in combating narco-trafficking, money-laundering, cyber-terrorism, border-trespassing and street crime.”

Pinilla noted that his government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group are currently undergoing negotiations in Havana, Cuba, to seal a peace deal that has dragged on for over two years.

Three out of five points ― reforms to boost agricultural production, political participation of FARC members and counternarcotics policies ― were agreed upon, with victim compensation and conflict resolution still remaining.

“Both sides are currently walking a tight rope and the situation is tense and fragile. But for sure, we will seal the peace deal in the end. That is the mindset of 48 million Colombians,” he emphasized.

By Joel Lee  (joel@heraldcorp.com)