Al-Attiyah hails S Korea’s green growth strategy

HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority and Chairman of the Climate Change Conference (COP18), Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, met South Korean Environment Minister Jung-Suk Yu here yesterday. Talks during the meeting dealt with matters of interest to both countries. The meeting was attended by Qatar’s Ambassador to South Korea Ali bin Hamad al-Marri and members of the delegation accompanying al-Attiyah. Later al-Attiyah  participated in a reception hosted by South Korean environment minister on the occasion of the first preparatory ministerial meeting of COP 18.   The event was attended by several climate and environment ministers participating in the meeting.    Speaking on the occasion, al-Attiyah said: “I would like to begin by extending my sincere appreciation for the support of the government of Korea to the State of Qatar in hosting this key preparatory ministerial meeting for the Doha Climate Change Conference. I would also like to express my gratitude for Korea’s hospitality and invitation on behalf of my entire team who have joined me on this occasion. “Secondly, I would like to congratulate the Republic of Korea on the Green Climate Fund Board Decision to be the host country of GCF. As we are well aware, the Republic of Korea has been a frontrunner in promoting the green growth agenda at home and internationally. This year, Qatar too joined the Global Green Growth Institute as a founding member, and has been closely co-operating with Korea in this area.” On a bilateral basis, too, Korea and Qatar enjoy a profound and very positive partnership, which is based on excellent political and economic relations in areas of mutual interest, and especially in energy and trade, and a commitment to sustainable development, al-Attiyah said, adding: “I am confident that our mutual ties will further expand into new areas, such as research and development and culture.” With regards to the environmental sphere, the president of the Climate Change Conference (COP18) said: “I would like to say that Qatar applauds the innovative approaches that Korea is undertaking under its pioneering green growth strategy. Qatar too is basing its long-term development plans on the understanding that a sustainable future requires balance in all three pillars: the economy, the society, and the environment. “Given the many similarities that our countries share, I believe there are many lessons to learn and share as we strive towards a future that is climate safe. “More broadly, I hope that Korea’s and Qatar’s experience of successful co-operation will help us to establish an atmosphere that is conducive to open dialogue on all issues of concern here in Seoul in the coming two days,” al-Attiyah said. HE al-Attiyah also had separate meetings with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change Christina Fegers and the Cartagena Dialogue Group here yesterday. Talks during the two meetings dealt with the issues related to the latest developments and preparations for the Climate Change Conference, due to be held in Doha in November.