1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yoon Soon-gu held the 10th Republic of Korea-Federative Republic of Brazil high-level policy consultation with Undersecretary General for Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Henrique Sardinha in Seoul on September 5. In the consultation, the two sides discussed relations between the two countries; ways to step up economic cooperation, and an ROK-MERCOSUR trade agreement; cooperation on the global stage; and the situations on the Korean Peninsula, and in Latin America.

※ The ROK-Brazil high-level policy consultation is a consultative forum created in 1997 between the two countries to review bilateral issues, and to discuss ways to advance the ROK-Brazil relations in all areas.

2. The two sides took note that building upon their “comprehensive cooperative partnership,” the two countries had increased cooperation in a range of areas, and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations by facilitating high-level exchanges and various consultative mechanisms, with next year marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

※ In his opening statement, Deputy Minister Yoon expressed regret over the fact that Brazil’s valuable cultural treasures had been lost in the fire at the country’s National Museum in Rio de Janeiro. In response, Undersecretary General Sardinha expressed appreciation.

3. The two sides assessed the two countries’ trade and economic situations, and discussed difficulties facing Korean companies in Brazil, as well as imports and exports of agricultural products between the two countries. They also reaffirmed their willingness to promote closer trade relations.

o Deputy Minister Yoon expected that negotiations on an ROK-MERCOSUR trade agreement which started in May this year would help further increase trade and investment between the two countries, and asked the Brazilian side to play an active role in the negotiations.

4. Deputy Minister Yoon stressed that Korean companies had world-class technologies in the infrastructure and defense industries, and asked for cooperation in helping Korean companies increase their presence in Brazil.

o Undersecretary General Sardinha talked about the Brazilian government’s plans to expand infrastructure, including seaports, airports, and railways, and said that his country actively welcomed Korean companies’ interest in them. The two sides also agreed to continue to work together to assist the companies of the two countries in their efforts to enter each other’s countries.

5. Deputy Minister Yoon expressed appreciation to the Brazilian government for active cooperation in the search for the missing crew members of the Stellar Daisy, and in the response to the fire that broke out on the Stellar Samba. He also offered to maintain close cooperation in preparation for similar incidents or accidents in the future.

6. The two sides noted that the two countries were actively working together in the multilateral arena, including supporting candidacies in international organizations, and agreed to continue to step up cooperation on the global stage, including the UN, and the OECD.

7. Deputy Minister Yoon explained the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and expressed appreciation for the Brazilian government’s consistent support for the ROK government’s efforts to achieve complete denuclearization and to establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

o Undersecretary General Sardinha spoke about the current situation in Latin America, including the situation in Venezuela, and expressed interest and support for complete denuclearization, and the establishment of a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

8. The 10th high-level policy consultation came about five years after the 9th consultation, held in Brasilia in November 2013. It served as an opportunity to review the overall relationship between the two countries ahead of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year, and to discuss ways to enhance cooperation.

* unofficial translation