1. The “Republic of Korea (ROK)-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign and Defense Dialogue” was held in Seoul on November 12.

o Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3^rd ROK-UAE Foreign and Defense (2+2) Vice-Ministerial Meeting scheduled for this year was replaced by a dialogue attended by deputy minister or director-general-level officials from the foreign affairs and defense authorities of the two countries as well as the UAE Ambassador to the ROK.

2. At the Dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on the ways to further develop the ROK-UAE special strategic partnership that has been reinforced through mutual visits by the leaders of the two countries during 2018-2019, a phone conversation between the leaders in March this year, and high-level exchanges.

o The two sides also discussed ways to further advance bilateral relations in various areas, such as defense and security, public health and agriculture, and cooperation on the international agenda. There was also a discussion on global and regional affairs including the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East.

3. This Dialogue served as a forum for close communication between the foreign affairs and defense authorities of the two countries despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

o The two sides shared the view that the two countries would continue to enhance cooperation on foreign affairs and  defense issues, and agreed to hold the 3^rd ROK-UAE Foreign and Defense (2+2) Vice-Ministerial Meeting at a mutually convenient time next year.