Himalayan News Service

New Delhi, January 7:

South Korea today expressed its desire to join India in the exploration of energy resources in a bilateral meeting held between the ministers of the two countries. South Korea’s vice-minister of commerce, energy and industry Hwan Eik Cho discussed the possibility with India’s Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar. “We discussed pending cooperation issues and joint exploration of energy resources,” Hwan told reporters after the meeting. The South Korean minister was here to attend the first Asian ministerial roundtable of major oil producers and consumers yesterday. Asked if his country would be interested in participating in the exploration blocks offered for bids under the fifth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP-5), Hwan said, “Of course, we will be interested.”

He added that an invitation had been extended to Aiyar to visit South Korea as ‘he has only visited North Korea’. The minister also expressed a keen desire to participate in other energy sectors, besides exploration in India. The two ministers discussed modifications in the resolutions that would be endorsed at the next roundtable to be held in Saudi Arabia - at a date to be decided later. The New Delhi meeting was attended by 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, Oman and Japan.