1. Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam, together with Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held the second Republic of Korea-Sri Lanka policy consultation in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 7.

2. In the second policy consultation that came five years after the first of its kind held in 2013, the Vice Minister and the Secretary reviewed the progress in the implementation of the measures agreed upon by the two countries during Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s state visit to the ROK in 2017; and agreed to work more closely together across the board, including high-level exchanges, political affairs and substantive fields.

※ President Sirisena of Sri Lanka paid a state visit to the ROK from November 28 till 30, 2017, to mark the 40^th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations. During the visit, the two countries mainly agreed to conclude a framework arrangement concerning loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and an agreement on economic cooperation; to revise the bilateral “Cultural Cooperation Agreement” and the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) on labor cooperation; and to sign an MOU between the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.

3. Vice Minister Lim, citing many similarities between the ROK and Sri Lanka, such as in overcoming wounds caused by colonial occupation, a civil war and authoritarian politics to achieve democracy and economic development, called Sri Lanka an outstanding cooperative partner for the ROK in implementing its New Southern Policy. Secretary Kariyawasam voiced hope that the ROK and Sri Lanka will work together on the latter government’s “Vision 2025” policy.

※ The “Vision 2025” is the Sri Lankan government’s initiative designed to, by the year 2025, turn the country into a hub in the Indian Ocean region that seeks to build a knowledge-based social market economy.

4. Vice Minister Lim shared with his Sri Lankan counterpart the outcome of the recent inter-Korean summit talks and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He extended appreciation to the Sri Lankan government for its support for the ROK government’s work toward a complete denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, voicing hope for further cooperation of the Sri Lankan government.

° Secretary Kariyawasam relayed Sri Lanka’s strong support for the ROK government’s policy for peace on the Korean Peninsula, adding that cooperation will be extended to the ROK as necessary.

5. Vice Minister Lim asked the Sri Lankan government to pay attention to efforts to resolve challenges facing Korean enterprises operating in Sri Lanka. He also requested that the Sri Lankan government positively consider allowing Korean companies to take part in Sri Lanka’s projects to build such forms of infrastructure as a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, a multi-purpose aquarium, and a tunnel in Kandy.

° Secretary Kariyawasam, particularly extending appreciation to the ROK government for its assistance with the Sri Lankan project to build a large city in the western part of the country, asked for major Korean companies’ attention to and participation in infrastructure improvement projects in Sri Lanka.

6. Secretary Kariyawasam expressed gratitude to the ROK government for offering grants and loans to Sri Lanka and thereby contributing to the socio-economic development thereof, as well as hope for further cooperation with the ROK in the field of development.

7. The policy consultation is seen to have helped to further reinforce the momentum of ROK-Sri Lanka cooperation across the board, including political affairs, economy and culture, which was built during Sri Lankan President Sirisena’s state visit to the ROK in 2017.

* unofficial translation