Estonian parlt's foreign affairs committee starts visit to South Korea, Taiwan

  • 2024-10-28
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN – A delegation of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament on Sunday embarked on a week-long visit to South Korea and Taiwan to discuss the regional security situation and the impact of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

"In both Seoul and Taipei, in addition to promoting bilateral relations, we will also focus on getting to know the regional security situation and conceptualizing the importance of Ukraine's victory," committee chairman Marko Mihkelson said, adding that the main topic of the visit is the security situation.

According to Mihkelson, Russia's war of aggression and North Korea joining it also affect the security of the Asian region.

In Seoul, the delegation will meet with Lee Hack-young, deputy speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea, Minister of Unification Kim Yung-ho and the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Kim Hee-sang. The members of the Riigikogu will visit the European Union delegation, the embassy of Ukraine, Soongsil University and several think tanks. They plan to have meetings with the representatives of Asan Institute for Policy Studies, the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, the International Democracy Hub and the company Hanwha Aerospace. They will also visit the Korean demilitarized zone and meet with local Estonians at the Estonian Business Hub.

On Wednesday, the representatives of the foreign affairs committee will travel to Taipei, where they will meet with President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te, Vice President of the Parliament of Taiwan Johnny Chiang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu, as well as Secretary General Joseph Wu and Deputy Secretary General Lin Fei-fan of the National Security Council. They also plan to have meetings at the European Economic and Trade Office, and the European Values Center for Security Policy that in January 2022 became the first European think tank to open its office in Taiwan. During the visit, which will last until Sunday, the members of the Riigikogu will also visit Kinmen Islands.

Mihkelson is accompanied on the visit by members of the foreign affairs committee Ester Karuse, Henn Põlluaas and Luisa Rõivas.