1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Sei-young had a telephone conversation with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru Jaime Antonio Pomareda Montenegro on the morning of March 20.

o Vice Minister Cho explained the difficulties faced by Korean travelers in Peru due to the Peruvian government’s Declaration of a State of National Emergency and closure of borders concerning the COVID-19 outbreak, and asked for the Peruvian government’s special support and cooperation to ensure their safe and prompt return home.

2. Vice Minister Cho noted with appreciation that the Peruvian government has given an exemption to foreign travelers through a Presidential Decree (Mar. 18) so that they can leave the country, and said that the government of the Republic of Korea is working on measures to support Korean tourists, including arranging temporary flights with local airlines to help them leave Peru.

o In regard to this, Vice Minister Cho asked for the Peruvian government’s active cooperation and Vice Minister Pomareda’s special interest in carrying out necessary procedures when temporary flights are ready, including permitting the flights’ prompt departure from the country, and helping Korean tourists move to Lima and leave Peru safely.

3. Vice Minister Pomareda promised cooperation and said that he will actively support Korean nationals’ safe and prompt departure from Peru in close consultation with the ROK Embassy in Peru.

4. Vice Minister Cho stressed the importance of international cooperation to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak. Vice Minister Pomareda expressed interest in the ROK’s experience in responding to COVID-19 and test kits, and offered to continue to step up cooperation in the area with the ROK.