1. On the occasion of the 2019 Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, together with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Jean-Yves Le Drian, held the 3rd Republic of Korea-French Republic ministerial strategic dialogue in Paris at 11:30-14:00, May 24. In the meeting, the two sides exchanged a wide range of views on ways to advance the bilateral relations; cooperation on global issues; and situations on the Korean Peninsula and in other regions of the world.

2. Minister Kang started out by extending appreciation to the French government for rescuing the ROK national who had been abducted by an armed group in Burkina Faso as well as deep condolences to the two servicepeople sacrificed in the rescue operations and their bereaved families.

° The two Ministers voiced hope that the ROK and France will continue mutually complementary cooperation on crisis management; and in particular, will work more closely together in protecting the two countries’ nationals in third countries.

3. The two Ministers, taking note of ongoing active bilateral cooperation since the bilateral summit talks held in October 2018, agreed to continue the follow-up on what had been discussed by the two Presidents in various areas, including foreign affairs, national defense, economy, science and culture.

4. With regard to the European Union’s definitive safeguard measures on certain steel products, Minister Kang asked the French government to pay attention and render support to ensure that the expansion of the import quota for the ROK’s steel products, used in factories mainly invested by Korean companies in Europe, is reflected in the EU’s recently started review process; and thereby to maintain bilateral trade flows in a mutually beneficial way.

5. Minister Kang commended France’s leadership in the international community in addressing climate change and other environmental issues; brought renewed attention to the importance of inducing developing countries to take part in implementing the Paris Agreement and the sustainable development goals (SDGs); and voiced hope that France and the EU will join the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and expand cooperation on efforts to respond to climate change and to achieve the SDGs.

6. The two Ministers, drawing a common understanding that the international community needs to respond sternly to terrorism, a serious threat to world peace and security, agreed to work more closely together on counter-terrorism.

7. The two Ministers exchanged assessments on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to continue close cooperation in achieving progress in denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue.

° France reaffirmed its position that, as a member of the EU and permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, it will provide cooperation and support to the extent necessary.

8. The 3rd ROK-France ministerial strategic dialogue is the third ministerial meeting held this year, following the ones in February and March. It is seen to have served as a useful opportunity to reinforce cooperation in pursuing continued implementation of the follow-up on the bilateral summit talks held in October 2018 and advances in the bilateral ties, as well as cooperation on global issues.

* unofficial translation