1. First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam, together with Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, will hold the sixth Republic of Korea-Philippines policy consultation in Seoul on October 28.

2. In the first policy consultation since the launch of the new government in the Philippines in June 2016, the two sides will discuss ways to step up substantive cooperation in the sectors of economy, trade and infrastructure, as well as consular cooperation, including in protecting the ROK nationals in the Philippines; the North Korean nuclear issue and the situation on the Korean Peninsula; and ways to work together at the UN, ASEAN and other regional and global organizations.

° Given that ROK nationals have been falling victim to violent crimes in the Philippines in recent years, the two sides will discuss ways to better protect the ROK nationals in the Philippines. The ROK will also discuss with the Philippines, the chair of ASEAN for 2017, ways to work more closely together on North Korean issues.

3. The forthcoming ROK-Philippines policy consultation is expected to serve as a significant opportunity to reaffirm the ROK’s friendly and cooperative ties with the Philippines, the ROK’s ally with the longest history of diplomatic relations among the ASEAN member states, and to advance such cooperative relations with the new Philippine government.


* unofficial translation