Doha: National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in defense and energy, officials said Wednesday. During the talks held Tuesday in Doha, Woo urged Qatar to take greater interest in South Korea's defense industry, highlighting advancements in missile defense systems.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Woo noted the longstanding relationship between the two countries in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, spanning over 30 years. He expressed hope that their partnership would grow to include solar and other renewable energy sectors. Woo also emphasized South Korea's ambition to become one of the world's top three artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouses, highlighting the country's advanced AI technologies.

In response, the Qatari emir expressed his eagerness to enhance cooperation with South Korea in AI and defense. He announced plans to send a high-level delegation to South Korea soon and mentioned the possibility of a visit to South Korea himself. Woo is on a seven-day trip to Qatar and Vietnam to discuss bilateral ties and parliamentary cooperation.