Heads of state from around the globe have sent congratulatory messages to Seoul to mark Korea’s 70th anniversary of independence.

President Park Geun-hye received messages of congratulations from the leaders of 17 nations, including the U.S., China, Russia and India.


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(From left) U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Pope Francis



U.S. President Barack Obama said, “Liberation Day is an occasion to take pride in the Republic of Korea's many accomplishments.”

He went on to praise Korea’s achievements, saying “Korea's dynamic economic growth and vibrant democratic system have paved a path to prosperity and liberty for its people.”

“It is no wonder that the relationship between our countries is stronger than ever,” he said. President Obama added that the shared values and common interests between the two countries would serve as direction markers to build a future in which they could pursue common goals, saying that he looked forward to further bolstering the Korea-U.S. relationship.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that he is glad to see President Park’s outstanding leadership abilities and witness the efforts of the Korean people, both of which have been developing along with the country’s economy, society and international influence. The Chinese leader expressed his will to advance Korea-China ties, saying, “China will upgrade its strategic cooperative partnership with Korea up one notch, and strive to give the peoples of both countries happier lives.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his will to develop the Seoul-Moscow relationship. The Russian leader said, “The bilateral relationship has been amicable and constructive. Russia reaffirmed its interests in advancing bilateral cooperation in all areas, including cooperation at the international level in order to solve global issues.”

He emphasized the importance of their bilateral ties, saying, “Such cooperation is totally in line with the issues of common interest in both countries. It will also bolster peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the whole Northeast Asian region.”

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said that India considers its traditional friendly relationship with Korea as a precious one. The Indian president said he is satisfied with the current bilateral relationship, which has been upgraded to a special strategic partnership thanks to the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Korea earlier this year. He expected that the bilateral partnership will be further expanded and diversified in mutually beneficial and strategic sectors.

Finally, Pope Francis sent a message of blessing, saying that he hopes the Korean people could make efforts together in order to build a more righteous and integrated society.

Other countries that sent messages of congratulations include Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Algeria, Slovakia, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Israel, Sri Lanka, Gabon and Vietnam.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Yonhap News
arete@korea.kr