1. The Foreign Ministry will host a “Northeast Asia Gas Pipeline & Power Grid Cooperation Forum” at the Westin Chosun Hotel, Seoul, on March 30.

° The event will bring together some 300 people, including energy experts from such countries as China, Russia, Japan and Mongolia; those from energy-related agencies, private companies and academias at home and abroad; and foreign diplomats to the Republic of Korea.

2. The Forum will feature opening remarks by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha; congratulatory remarks by Chairman Shim Jae-kwon of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly; and a keynote speech by Chairman Song Young-gil of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation. Its morning and afternoon sessions will cover the progress in the project to build gas pipelines and super-grids in Northeast Asia as well as ways to work together in that regard.

° The morning and afternoon sessions, titled “Cooperation on Gas Pipeline in Northeast Asia” and “Cooperation on Super-grid in Northeast Asia,” respectively, will consist of thematic presentations and discussions on the topics of the sessions.

* More details about the presentations are available in the attached file.

3. The Foreign Ministry expects that the Forum will contribute to the ROK’s efforts to improve its energy security, including the stabilization of gas and electricity supply, and to Northeast Asian countries’ work to pave the way for peace and cooperation in the region through energy cooperation among them.

* unofficial translation