Park arrives in Qatar on last leg of Mideast tour

By Kim Kwang-tae

DOHA, March 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrived in Qatar on Friday, on the last leg of her four-nation Mideast swing that is primarily focused on expanding economic ties beyond oil and construction.

South Korea's relations with oil-rich Middle East countries have long been dominated by Seoul's oil imports and its construction projects in the region.

Park was welcomed by Qatari officials upon arrival at Hamad International Airport before heading to a hotel in Doha.

On Saturday, She plans to meet with South Korean businessmen working in the small oil-rich Gulf state and to attend a hotel function meant to promote bilateral cultural exchange.

Park is set to hold talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Sunday before returning home.

Earlier this week, she also visited Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Her trip comes as Mideast countries are pushing to diversify their economies, which are heavily dependent on oil, ahead of the inevitable advent of a post-oil era.

South Korea believes Mideast countries' attempts to diversify their industries could present new business opportunities for South Korean companies, especially in the sectors of health care, technology and energy.

entropy@yna.co.kr
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