1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha, together with Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) Chencho Norbu, signed “the Headquarters Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization” on December 23, 2020.

° AFoCO is an international organization that was envisioned in the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in 2009 to enable Asian countries’ collective response to global forestry issues, such as climate change and forest restoration, and strengthen forestry cooperation in the region. Its Secretariat is located in Yeouido, Seoul.

2. The purpose of the Headquarters Agreement is to facilitate AFoCo’s operations in Korea by obtaining legal status for AFoCO as an international organization and ensuring privileges and immunities of the properties and the personnel at its headquarters. It will be brought into force after undergoing a parliamentary approval procedure for ratification.

° The Headquarters Agreement includes stipulations recognizing the legal personality of AFoCO and inviolability of its headquarters, as well as granting immunities on legal procedures and tax exemption to AFoCO and its properties.

 3. The signing of the Headquarters Agreement served as an opportunity to express to the international community the Korean government’s commitment to continue supporting AFoCO, an international organization founded under the leadership of Korea, as well as its will to contribute to promoting forestry cooperation based on its close cooperation with AFoCO.

° As a result of the concerted efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea Forest Service, AFoCO obtained Observer status in the United Nations General Assembly at the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly held on December 15, enhancing its competitiveness as an international organization and expanding its horizon of operations.

° The Headquarters Agreement is expected to contribute further to AFoCO’s operations in Korea and abroad to attract the international community’s interest and support regarding Asia’s forests.

4. The Korean government, as the host of the AFoCO Secretariat and a Party to AFoCO, plans to lead activities for sustainable forestry diplomacy and, in particular, will implement its New Southern Policy in the forestry sector by rendering active support to and reinforcing cooperation with AFoCO, which is participated by all of the ASEAN member states.