By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Lee Cheol-kyu, chairman of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Resources, SMEs and Startups Committee, met with Czech Ambassador to Korea Ivan Jančarek on Feb. 3.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Korea and the Czech Republic, including nuclear power plant construction projects.

On this day, Chairman Lee met with Ambassador Jančarek at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. This is the second time that the Czech Ambassador to Korea has visited the National Assembly's Industry, SMEs and Startups Committee since the Czech Republic was selected as the preferred bidder for the new nuclear power plant construction project in July of last year.

Chairman Lee is also scheduled to visit the Czech Republic in February as the head of a special delegation to the National Assembly ahead of the signing of the main contract for the Czech nuclear power plant construction project.

The chairman said, “Recently, since the resolution of the intellectual property rights issue between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the U.S. Westinghouse, nuclear power cooperation between Korea and the Czech Republic has deepened even more than when we met last year,” and “I plan to visit the Czech Republic in February at the National Assembly level to promise the continued promotion of the nuclear power plant construction project between Korea and the Czech Republic.”

The chairman added, “I will make sure that the Czech new nuclear power plant project is successfully promoted so that it does not end as a simple construction project but becomes an opportunity to further promote the nuclear power industry,” and “I will actively support it at the level of the National Assembly’s industry committee.”

Ambassador Jančarek said, “I am glad that the concerns, such as the cooperation between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Westinghouse, have been resolved,” and added, “I look forward to building a broad cooperation system with local Czech companies during the nuclear power plant construction process.”

He added, “I hope that Korea and the Czech Republic can explore cooperation plans in various fields, including the future nuclear power plant construction project, electric vehicles, and semiconductors.”