Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, made an unannounced visit on the 13th (local time) to Qatar, a key importer of LNG (liquefied natural gas). As instability in energy supply has grown due to the Middle East war, he is said to have discussed plans for energy and economic cooperation, including LNG.
According to local media and Cheong Wa Dae, Kang, who is visiting the Middle East as Lee Jae-myung's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, met Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, on the day and delivered a personal letter from the president.
Through the letter, the president offered condolences to Qatar, which suffered an Iranian strike amid the Middle East war, expressed a desire to strengthen solidarity between the two countries, and wished for a swift conclusion of cease-fire talks. Kang exchanged views with Emir Tamim on the overall international situation, including the Middle East, and focused on strengthening bilateral relations and energy cooperation. Qatar's Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi also attended.
Since the 7th, Kang has been touring Central Asia and the Middle East seeking ways to resolve instability in energy supply and demand. Cheong Wa Dae had initially said Kang planned to visit Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia, but he made an unscheduled stop in Qatar on the day.
Qatar supplies more than 15% of the LNG consumed in Korea and has signed a long-term contract for 6.1 million tons per year. Twenty percent of the world's LNG supply comes from Qatar.
Recently, as LNG production facilities were destroyed by Iran's strike, Qatar's LNG production and exports also faced disruptions. QatarEnergy, Qatar's state-owned energy company, even announced a temporary suspension of its fulfillment of long-term LNG supply contracts with Korea, Italy, Belgium and China. Amid growing concern over instability in LNG supply and demand, Kang visited Qatar in person for top-level talks.
A government official said, "Following crude oil and naphtha, concerns about instability in LNG supply and demand are also growing, and the very fact that top-level talks were held directly with Qatar, one of the world's largest LNG producers, is a major achievement."