1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a Republic of Korea-People’s Republic of China director-general-level dialogue on cooperation on disease control in response to COVID-19 in the form of video conference at 16:30-18:30, April 29, bringing together officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the disease control authorities, and other relevant government agencies of the two countries. The two sides assessed and shared the progress in the two countries’ responses to COVID-19, and discussed ways to promote cooperation in various areas, including support for essential economic and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries as well as disease control, clinical matters, air services, immigration, and students abroad.

° The ROK and Chinese head delegates to the conference were Mr. Kang Sang-wook, Director-General for Northeast Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Wu Jianghao, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, respectively. And the participants included officials of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport from the ROK; and the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the National Immigration Administration, and the Civil Aviation Administration from China.

2. The two sides shared the progress and achievements made by the two countries in responding to COVID-19 since their 1st video conference on cooperation on disease control held on March 13; took note that the two countries have continued bilateral cooperation through active communication at various levels; and shared the understanding that the two countries should continue to take an active part in and contribute to various bilateral and multilateral efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.

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3. The two sides agreed that, while continuing disease control efforts amid the COVID-19 situation, they will set up a “fast track procedure (a streamlined entry procedure for business people)” in order to ensure essential economic activities between the two countries.

° The two sides expressed hope that the establishment of the “fast track procedure” would help minimize economic and social impact of COVID-19 in the two countries, and agreed to continue close bilateral consultations in a bid to monitor the progress in the operation of the “fast track procedure” and to improve its effectiveness.

4. The two sides also suggested that relevant authorities of the two countries engage in communication and consultations as necessary on such matters as stepping up cooperation, including sharing information on disease control between health and immigration authorities; exploring ways to revitalize people-to-people exchanges when the COVID-19 situation stabilizes, including increasing flights; promoting convenience of the students in each other’s countries; and ensuring visits for humanitarian purposes.

5. Furthermore, the two sides shared the understanding that, building on various results of cooperation between the ROK and China to overcome COVID-19, the two countries should continue to work on carrying out bilateral high-level exchanges scheduled for 2020, among others, while stepping up efforts to take bilateral relations to a higher level.

6. At the dialogue on cooperation on disease control, the two sides are seen to have achieved substantial results by enhancing mutual understanding on the two countries’ policies for COVID-19 response and by discussing various ways to promote cooperation amid the COVID-19 situation, as they did in the 1st meeting.

° The two sides agreed to continue sharing information and exchanging views on matters of mutual interest, including COVID-19 response, through various channels such as the dialogue on disease control.