1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun met with Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of Korea Umar Hadi on the afternoon of November 4 and had an extensive exchange of views on ways to develop bilateral relations.

2. Vice Minister Choi noted with appreciation that the two countries have been continuing cooperation in COVID-19 response based on trust and close communication between the Presidents and foreign ministers of the two countries, and hoped to continue to strengthen cooperation so that the two countries, as special strategic partners, can steadily advance cooperative relations in all areas.

3. The two sides explored ways to resume high-level face-to-face exchanges including arranging Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi’s visit to the ROK within this year, as well as ways to accelerate the progress in substantive cooperation in key areas of bilateral cooperation, including political and economic affairs, national defense, and the defense industry.

3. In addition, the two sides expressed satisfaction that the economic cooperation between the two countries is continuing to increase even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that about 1,500 Korean business people have visited Indonesia since the Travel Corridor Arrangement for the movement of essential personnel took effect on August 17. They also agreed to continue strengthening cooperation for post-COVID-19 economic recovery, including expanding investment cooperation, bringing into force the ROK-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as early as possible, and signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) within this year.

4. Today’s meeting, which was Vice Minister Choi’s first individual meeting with an ambassador of an ASEAN country to the ROK since his meeting with the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) on October 15, is seen to have served as an opportunity for close communication through which the ROK strengthened strategic cooperation with Indonesia, a key partner for the New Southern Policy.