1. The 18th Republic of Korea-China meeting of directors-general for consular affairs took place in Beijing, China, on June 15, co-chaired by Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Kim Wan-joong of the ROK Foreign Ministry and his Chinese counterpart Guo Shaochun.

2. With more than 10 million people of the ROK and China engaging in exchanges annually, the two sides agreed to revise the bilateral “Agreement on the Simplification of Visa Procedures and the Issuance of Multiple Entry Visas,” which had been concluded in 1998, in a way that befits the current situation, and to dramatically improve immigration-related convenience for the peoples of the two countries. In addition, they drew a common understanding on other major issues, such as protecting the interests and rights of the people of the two countries residing in each other’s countries.

° The ROK side asked that in view of North Korea’s recent threats toward the ROK, the Chinese government pay attention to and cooperate in ensuring the safety of the ROK nationals visiting or residing in the border region between China and North Korea. The Chinese side responded that the country attaches great importance to the safety as well as the legal rights and interests of the foreigners in China, adding that it will seek progress in investigations into whereabouts of Koreans who had gone missing in China and relay their oucome to the ROK government.

3. With regard to the illegal fishing operations by Chinese fishing vessels in the Yellow Sea near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) and in the neutral waters in the Han River's estuary, the ROK side, considering the gravity and sensitiveness of the issue, asked the central and provincial governments of China to strongly crack down on such operations.

4. Over the luncheon on the heels of the meeting, the two sides agreed to work together to make a success of the third Global Consular Forum in the ROK in October 2016.

5. The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting in the ROK at an appropriate time in 2017.

6. After the meeting, the ROK delegation paid a courtesy call on Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou and exchanged views with him on the ROK-China relations and the way forward for bilateral cooperation on consular affairs.


* unofficial translation