1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha spoke over the phone with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah on the afternoon of April 1 at the latter’s request, and exchanged views on granting exceptions to Kuwait’s entry ban and allowing entry of Korean businesspeople, who are facing difficulties due to the Kuwaiti measure, as well as cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Kuwait in responding to the spread of COVID-19.

2. In response to Minister Kang’s request for cooperation in permitting entry of Korean entrepreneurs, Minister Ahmed relayed the Kuwaiti government’s position that, as a result of consultations among relevant authorities, the Kuwaiti government has decided to positively consider granting exceptions and allowing entry of Korean company workers with urgent needs to enter Kuwait for business, on the condition that they comply with requirements such as undergoing COVID-19 diagnostic testing before and after their entry.

° Minister Kang, extending appreciation for the Kuwaiti decision, mentioned that the close economic cooperative relations between the ROK and Kuwait will become more robust.  

3. Minister Ahmed highly commended the ROK’s capability for COVID-19 response and asked for the ROK government’s cooperation in the purchase of medical equipment including Korean-made testing kits as well as in sharing its know-how for COVID-19 response. Minister Kang responded that the ROK will cooperate with Kuwait as much as possible.

° The two Ministers agreed to make efforts to further expand health cooperation by building on our cooperation in overcoming COVID-19 and to further consolidate the comprehensive, future-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.