The Australian Embassy held an event Friday to mark the end of celebrations for the country’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Korea.

Ambassador Sam Gerovich also shared plans for his country’s participation in the Yeosu Expo at the event.

The Australian pavilion at the exposition to be held in Korea from May to August will be based on the theme of living in harmony with the ocean. 

Australia Day at the Expo will be held on May 25, and a contest is currently underway for Koreans to name Australia’s penguin mascot for the event.

Yeosu Expo commissioner Lee Joon-hee said that participating nations would come together to find solutions to problems facing the world’s oceans such as climate change and depletion of resources.

Head of Australia’s Yeosu Expo 2012 secretariat Kevin Nixon said: “The theme of our pavilion of Australia in harmony with the ocean will strengthen our credentials as a nation with high scientific and technical capabilities working in harmony with our vast natural assets.”

Visitors to the Australia pavilion will learn about the country’s work to protect its almost 60,000 km coastline and vast ocean jurisdiction that spans 8.1 million square km.

The event to discuss the Expo was held on Australia Day, but was mainly concerned with concluding 50 years of relations with Korea. In the last year, Australia has held almost 50 events to mark the anniversary.

“In 2011, I believe the ties that bind Korea and Australia were drawn a little tighter. The relationship was stepped up a notch,” said Gerovich.

He said that bilateral trade between the two countries has reached $32 billion last year, and two-way investment over the decade to 2010 had grown sevenfold to $16 billion.

“Korea and Australia have become natural partners and true friends,” he added.

For more information on Australia’s Expo pavilion go to www.expo2012.com.au.

By Kirsty Taylor (kirstyt@heraldcorp.com)