1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kim Gunn, together with Mr. Mark Sinclair, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Americas and Asia Group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, held the 21st Republic of Korea-New Zealand Policy Consultation on the morning of November 10 in a virtual format and exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations regarding COVID-19 response, the defense industry, economy and trade; the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region; and global issues, such as trade and climate change.

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2. Deputy Minister Kim stressed that bilateral cooperation in the defense industry is at a turning point, as seen from the example of a Korean company winning contract for Aotearoa, the largest-ever logistics support vessel in the history of New Zealand, and its delivery in June 2020. He went on to express hope that Korean companies would be able to join New Zealand’s maritime patrol vessel project, among others.

3. The two sides, as like-minded middle power countries in the region, agreed to work closely together at the East Asia Summit scheduled for November 14, and to communicate and cooperate closely for the success of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2021, of which New Zealand will assume the chairmanship.

4. Deputy Minister Kim asked that New Zealand, where entry of foreigners is banned due to the COVID-19 situation, allow entry of essential personnel, including business people, into the country under certain conditions in order to maintain smooth economic relations between the ROK and New Zealand.

° The Deputy Minister also voiced hope that a larger number of applicants to the Working Holiday program, in which Korean youth have shown high interest, would be accepted, boosting exchanges between the youths of the two countries.

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5. Deputy Minister Kim asked for New Zealand’s active participation in the 2nd Partnership for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, which the ROK government is planning to hold in 2021.

6. The Consultation, held just days after the launch of the second-term Cabinet of Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern on November 6 amid the growing volatility and uncertainty of the global situation, is seen as an opportunity for the two major like-minded middle power countries in the region to review the full range of current bilateral issues and enhance close communication and cooperative relations.