1. On Monday, November 25, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Yun Kang-hyeon met with Special Representative for Central Asia Peter Burian of the European Union (EU) who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK). During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the situation in Central Asia and ways for enhancing cooperation with Central Asian countries.

○ Deputy Minister Yun explained that the ROK and five Central Asian countries, key cooperative partners of the ROK’s New Northern Policy, have advancing friendly and cooperative relations in a range of areas such as politics, economy, culture and people-to-people exchanges since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the ROK and the five Central Asian countries on the basis of historical and cultural bonds as observed in active summit diplomacy and 300,000 Korean people’s presence in Central Asia.

2. Deputy Minister Yun mentioned that since its launch in 2007, the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum has been playing a pivotal role in promoting a comprehensive exchange, cooperation and friendship between the ROK and Central Asian countries in various areas such as substantive cooperation, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Furthermore, he explained that the 12^th minister-level Forum held in Central Asia elevated trust and cooperation between the ROK and Central Asian countries to a higher level.

3. Special Representative Burian highly noted the levels of friendship and cooperation between the ROK and Central Asian countries, particularly commended that the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum is an exemplary case in stepping up cooperation with Central Asian countries, and voiced hope that the ROK and the EU would boost synergistic effects of mutual cooperation through close communication in the process of promoting cooperation with the five Central Asian countries.