1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 3rd Republic of Korea-Republic of El Salvador policy consultation in San Salvador on November 6. In the meeting, the two sides extensively exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and ways to advance the bilateral relations; to increase economic cooperation on the back of the ROK-Central America FTA; to step up cooperation on infrastructure and development; and to work together at such regional cooperative organizations as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Central American Integration System (SICA).

° The ROK and El Salvadorian head delegates to the policy consultation were Director-General for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jo Yung-joon and Director-General for Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jorge Aranda, respectively.

2. The two sides, taking note of the close bilateral cooperation across the board, including political affairs, economy and culture, over more than half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962, agreed to continue strengthening friendly and cooperative ties, including by increasing high-level exchanges.

3. The two sides, taking note of the recent progress in bilateral trade, voiced hope that when the ROK-Central America FTA, formally signed in February 2018, is brought into force, it willd help boost bilateral trade and investment.

※ The ROK-Central America FTA is an FTA between the ROK and five Central American countries -- the Republic of Panama, the Republic of Costa Rica, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of El Salvador and the Republic of Nicaragua. El Salvador completed the parliamentary ratification process on June 21, 2018, becoming the first among those five Central American countries to do so.

° Director-General Aranda voiced hope to see cooperation grow in such sectors as airports and ports. Meanwhile, Director-General Jo suggested working together in supporting bids of Korean enterprises to expand their presence in various infrastructure projects conducted by the El Salvadorian government.

4. The two sides reviewed the progress in development cooperation between the two countries and discussed ways to work more closely together at such regional cooperative organizations as CELAC, SICA and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

5. Director-General Jo explained the current situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as the ROK government’s efforts to achieve denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, asking the El Salvadorian government to remain unswervingly supportive in this regard.

° Director-General Aranda expressed strong support for the ROK government’s efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

6. The 3rd ROK-El Salvador policy consultation, which came three years after the second of its kind held in 2015, is seen to have served as a good opportunity to review the progress in the overall bilateral relations and to explore ways to work more closely together.

* unofficial translation