1. On February 13, Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho met with Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Natalia Kanem, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea, and exchanged views on the opening of the UNFPA office in the ROK and ways to step up cooperation between the ROK and the UNFPA.

2. Vice Minister Lee took note of the UNFPA’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including improving sexual and reproductive health and supporting family planning. He also voiced hope that cooperation between the ROK and the UNFPA would increase further through the opening of the UNFPA office in the ROK this year, at a time when the ROK serves as President of the UNFPA Executive Board.

3. Executive Director Kanem said that it was meaningful to open the UNFPA office in the ROK in 2019, a golden jubilee marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of the UNFPA. She noted that the ROK made crucial investments in health, family planning, and education, spurring growth and women’s empowerment, and is now sharing its wealth of experience and best practices to support developing countries. She also hoped to strengthen future-oriented cooperation between the two sides in the areas.

o Executive Director Kanem expressed hope that the UNFPA office in the ROK would contribute to developing international programs and strengthening expertise regarding low birth rate and aging population. She also hoped to step up cooperation with relevant Korean organizations.

4. Vice Minister Lee acknowledged that the ROK is closely cooperating with the UNFPA in implementing Korea’s “Action with Women and Peace” initiative, launched last year. He hoped that such cooperative relations would contribute to improving the quality of life for women affected by conflicts, strengthening capacity building, and enhancing women’s rights.

5. The meeting held on the occasion of the opening of the UNFPA office in the ROK this year served as an opportunity to reaffirm the two sides’ commitment to continuing partnership, and to deepen their cooperative relations, including by working together in the UNFPA’s humanitarian activities.

* unofficial translation