1. On the occasion of the 74^th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha attended the 4^th Troika Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) on September 26 and discussed FEALAC’s way forward with the foreign ministers from the two regions.

2. The foreign ministers of the six countries -- the previous, current and next Regional Coordinators for East Asia and Latin America -- shared the common understanding that a new milestone should be created for reinforcing the institutional foundation of FEALAC, which marks its 20^th anniversary this year, as well as for FEALAC’s way forward. On that note, they agreed to make joint efforts to produce results that can help promote mutually beneficial cooperation at the 9^th FEALAC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, set to take place in the Dominican Republic in November.

3. During the Meeting, Minister Kang emphasized the commitment of the ROK, the host of the 8^th FEALAC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the chair of the FEALAC Fund Steering Committee, to actively contribute to the development of FEALAC. She requested the other member states’ active participation and cooperation in expanding the FEALAC Fund and moving the cooperation projects forward.

° The participating countries, commending the ROK government’s leadership in the operation of the Fund, expressed their willingness to contribute financial resources.

4. The ROK suggested setting up “guidelines for FEALAC cooperation projects” with the aim to enhance the effectiveness of the FEALAC cooperation projects, which drew positive responses from the participants.

5. The ROK government is leading cooperation between East Asia and Latin America through FEALAC in a bid to diversify diplomacy and boost middle power diplomacy, and will continue such efforts.

° In this light, the 4^th FEALAC Troika Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is seen to have served as an opportunity to reaffirm the ROK’s contribution and leading role at FEALAC.