1. Mr. Hong Jin-wook, Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with Mr. António Inàcio, Director for Asia and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique, held the 2nd Republic of Korea (ROK)-Mozambique Policy Consultation Meeting and a working luncheon in Maputo, Mozambique, on November 12. During the meeting and the luncheon, the two sides extensively discussed the relations between the two countries, trade and investment, energy cooperation including in natural gas development, humanitarian assistance provided to Mozambique over floods in early 2019, and the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Africa.

2. The two sides shared the view that the two countries have advanced friendly and cooperative ties in various sectors, including political affairs, economy and development cooperation, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993. They also noted that policy exchanges between the two countries are growing, as could be seen from the bilateral Foreign Ministers’ meeting held on the occasion of the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September and the 2nd Policy Consultation Meeting held just two months after the Foreign Ministers’ meeting to follow up on it.

3. The two sides shared the understanding that the two countries have mutually complementary economic structures and hence a great potential for cooperation in such areas as energy and natural resources development. On that note, they agreed to further advance the bilateral partnership in a mutually beneficial way.

​

° In particular, Director-General Hong stressed that as Korean enterprises have an advanced level of technology and abundant experiences in such areas as shipbuilding, energy, and the construction of onshore and offshore plants, cooperation with the ROK side would contribute greatly to Mozambique’s natural gas development and economic growth. He went on to ask for the Mozambican government’s attention to and support for Korean companies’ presence in the country.

​

° In response, Director Inàcio expressed hope that the recent successful investment in the natural gas sector would lead to investment in Mozambique by a larger number of Korean enterprises, adding that, to that end, full support will be provided for Korean enterprises, including on the safety issue.

​

4. Director-General Hong extended consolation to Mozambique over the massive loss of lives and property damage caused by a series of cyclones that had hit the country in March and April; recalled the fact that in addition to the 800,000 USD assistance it had extended for crisis response and damage recovery, the ROK government had provided another 500,000 USD in humanitarian assistance as a result of the ROK-Mozambique Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in September; and expressed hope that reconstruction and recovery efforts in Mozambique will continue to proceed smoothly.

° Director Inàcio once again extended appreciation to the ROK for its swift decision to provide humanitarian assistance, adding that the ROK’s assistance will greatly help in providing relief supplies and facilities for those displaced by the cyclones.

5. Director-General Hong offered congratulations to the Mozambican government on the conclusion of a peace treaty in August to bring an end to conflicts between the ruling and opposition groups after about two years of dialogue and negotiations. He explained that the ROK government, on its part, is also making efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue, and asked for the Mozambican government’s continued support for the efforts of the ROK government to achieve complete denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

​

° Director Inàcio, expressing gratitude to Director-General Hong for his positive remarks, mentioned that Mozambique supports the ROK government’s efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

6. The two sides also discussed cooperation in seeking bilateral agreements on investment and taxation as well as cooperation on cultural exchanges, consular affairs, and the international stage, including the UN and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

​

7. Before the Policy Consultation Meeting, Director-General Hong paid a courtesy call on Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Antonio Justino Nhalungo, during which the two sides discussed ways to increase high-level exchanges as well as cooperation on economic, cultural and consular affairs. In particular, Director-General Hong underscored the need to lay the institutional foundation for Korean enterprises’ presence in Mozambique, including by concluding a bilateral investment treaty.