1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with her Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai in Seoul on May 17, and discussed ways to enhance relations between the Republic of Korea and Thailand, which mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year; the situation on the Korean Peninsula; cooperation between the ROK and ASEAN; and cooperation between the ROK and Mekong countries.

2. Minister Kang took note that the ROK-Thailand relations have advanced in a range of areas, including political, economic, and cultural affairs, as well as people-to-people exchanges, over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and especially that the two countries have deepened and enhanced the strategic partnership since 2012. She also noted that the Foreign Ministers’ meeting took place as the two sides mark the meaningful year of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

※ The ROK and Thailand established diplomatic relations on October 1, 1958, and forged the bilateral strategic partnership in 2012.

3. Minister Kang expressed appreciation to the Thai government for welcoming the inter-Korean summit by issuing a statement, and asked for continued support and cooperation from Thailand, the chair of ASEAN next year, in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace on the Peninsula.

o Minister Don spoke highly of the ROK government leading efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish peace on the Peninsula, and said that as next year’s ASEAN chair, Thailand will make sure that ASEAN continues to provide necessary support.

4. Minister Kang said that cooperation from Thailand, next year’s ASEAN chair and the ROK’s strategic partner, is important in actively implementing the New Southern Policy, and asked for its support. Minister Don took note of the efforts the ROK has exerted to strengthen its relations with ASEAN, and said that Thailand will continue to cooperate with the ROK to ensure a smooth implementation of the New Southern Policy.

o Minister Don also talked about the Thai government’s efforts to enhance connectivity and reduce the development gap among countries along the Mekong River. Minister Kang said that the efforts to enhance connectivity in the Mekong region are consistent with the New Southern Policy, which aims to contribute to improving ASEAN’s connectivity, and offered to continue to work together to step up cooperation between the ROK and Mekong countries.

5. The Foreign Ministers’ meeting served as an opportunity to further expand and deepen the relations between the ROK and Thailand, which celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, and to reaffirm the support of Thailand, an important partner in the New Southern Policy, as well as next year’s ASEAN chair, for the ROK’s Korean Peninsula policy and New Southern Policy.

* unofficial translation