1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho, who is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 30 to November 1, met bilaterally with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, and Minister of Energy and Industry Suhail Al-Mazroui on October 31, and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including issues regarding the Republic of Korea-UAE relations, and the current state of bilateral relations.

2. In the meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gargash, the two sides noted that since the ROK-UAE relations were elevated to a special strategic partnership during the ROK President’s visit to the UAE in March this year, the two countries had steadily developed their relations, strengthening strategic communications through the 3rd strategic dialogue between the ROK and UAE Foreign Ministers in July, and the 1st Vice Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Meeting in October.

o Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Minister Gargash expressed a keen interest in the latest progress in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, and denuclearizing the Peninsula, and reaffirmed that as the ROK’s special strategic partner, the UAE would continue to support the development of inter-Korean relations.

- Vice Minister Lee explained the results of the inter-Korean summit in Pyeongyang, and developments in follow-up negotiations between the US and North Korea, and expressed appreciation to the UAE for consistently supporting the development of inter-Korean relations under the strategic leadership of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed. Vice Minister Lee also asked for the UAE’s continued interest and support.

o Concerning the situation in the Middle East, Minister Gargash explained in detail the UAE’s position on the situations in Yemen and Iran. Vice Minister Lee took note that the UAE had been contributing to the establishment of peace in the Middle East on the basis of its most open and stable situation in the Middle East.

3. In his meeting with Minister of Energy and Industry Al-Mazroui, Vice Minister Lee hoped that the ROK-UAE high-level consultation on nuclear energy, being pursued as part of measures to follow up on the bilateral summit held during the ROK President’s official visit to the UAE in March, would be launched as a communication channel between the two countries this year as scheduled.

※ Minister Al-Mazroui and Vice Minister Lee Tae-ho will serve as heads of delegations of the two sides to the high-level consultation on nuclear energy.

o Minister Al-Mazroui agreed on the need to hold the consultation within the year, and voiced hope that the consultation would contribute to the success of the Barakah nuclear power plant, and by extension, joint bids to enter the nuclear power plant market in third countries, and more cooperation in nuclear energy R&D.

- Minister Al-Mazroui also asked Korean companies with abundant technological capacity and competitiveness to increase their presence in a broader range of areas in the UAE, including not only the energy sector, but manufacturing, logistics and the water industry.

* unofficial translation