1. Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will hold a luncheon meeting with the heads of delegations from five Central American countries, who are on a visit to the Republic of Korea to attend the signing ceremony of the ROK-Central America FTA, at Lotte World Tower on February 20, and exchange views on the relations between the ROK and Central America; the ROK-Central America FTA and cooperation in other economic and trade affairs; and collaboration on North Korea.

※ Heads of delegations of the five countries to the signing ceremony of the ROK-Central America FTA: △Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica Alexander Mora, △Minister of Economy of El Salvador Tharsis Lopez, △Minister of Development, Industry and Trade of Nicaragua Orlando Solorzano, △Minister of Economic Development of Honduras Arnaldo Castillo, △Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry of Panama Diana Salazar

※ The signing ceremony of the ROK-Central America FTA will take place on February 21 (Lotte Hotel).

2. In the luncheon meeting, Vice Minister Cho will take note that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962, the ROK and the Central American countries have developed friendly and cooperative relations in a range of areas, and ask for the countries’ interest and support regarding the safety and economic activities of Korean residents and companies in the five Central American countries.

o Vice Minister Cho will especially ask for cooperation from the Central American side to ensure a smooth implementation of the ROK-Central America FTA, expressing hope that the signing of the FTA will become an important stepping stone that helps increase trade and investment between the two regions and expand their FTA network.

※ The ROK-Central America FTA is a comprehensive FTA that eliminates tariffs on more than 95 percent of items and covers services sectors, intellectual property rights, government procurement, and improvement of the business environment.

3. In addition, Vice Minister Cho will explain the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, including developments regarding inter-Korean talks, and the meaning of North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, and express appreciation for the five Central American countries’ consistent support for the ROK government’s North Korea policy. Vice Minister Cho will also ask for the five countries’ continued cooperation to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

4. In the luncheon meeting, the two sides are expected to share the view that the signing of the ROK-Central America FTA will advance their comprehensive cooperative relations by increasing exchanges and cooperation between the two regions not only in economic and trade affairs, but also in other various areas, including education, infrastructure, and medical service. They are also expected to reaffirm their collaboration to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

* unofficial translation