1. On the occasion of the 14th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Dec. 15-16, Madrid), Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha met bilaterally with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Bogdan Lucian Aurescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Beskenuly Tileuberdi, and Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Ekaterina Zaharieva on December 16.

2. (Romania) The two Ministers took note of the smooth implementation of the Joint Action Plan, signed by the two countries in 2010 in order to advance their strategic partnership, and agreed to work together to accelerate cooperation in a range of areas through faithful implementation of the Plan. With next year marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, they also agreed to cooperate to further enhance mutual understanding and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries through various commemorative programs.
 
o Minister Kang hoped that Korean companies would make further inroads into Romania’s large-scale transportation infrastructure sector, and also offered to seek cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

o Minister Aurescu voiced hope that Korean companies with advanced technology and experience would participate in Romania’s transportation infrastructure and nuclear power plant projects, and that Korean companies would increase their investment in Romania.

3. (Kazakhstan) The two Ministers noted that the ROK-Kazakhstan relations took a leap forward with President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to Kazakhstan this year, which marks the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries. They also took note that follow-up measures to the ROK-Kazakhstan summit are being smoothly implemented in a range of areas through robust high-level exchanges, including the Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

o In addition, the two Ministers took note of the continuing efforts to expand mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries, including the progress in the ROK-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) FTA, and agreed to continue to strengthen substantive cooperation between the two countries through high-level exchanges, including the ROK-Kazakhstan Joint Economic Committee.

4. (Bulgaria) The two Ministers noted that the comprehensive, future-oriented partnership between the ROK and Bulgaria deepened with Prime Minister Borissov’s official visit to the ROK in September ahead of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2020. The two sides agreed to continue to work together to faithfully implement the follow-up measures to the Prime Minister’s visit to the ROK, and expressed hope that various commemorative events to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations would be held in both countries next year, further enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

o In particular, Minister Kang expected to see the Korean company (Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.)’s participation in Bulgaria’s Belene nuclear power plant project, and hoped that this would help increase cooperation between the two countries in the nuclear energy sector.

5. Minister Kang shared assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula with the Foreign Ministers of Romania, Kazakhstan and Bulgaria, and hoped to continue to closely work together to achieve complete denuclearization and establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Foreign Ministers reaffirmed solidarity and support for the ROK government’s efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.