1. On the afternoon of November 24, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha had her first telephone conversation with new Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Nanaia Mahuta, who took office on November 6, at the latter’s request, and discussed response to COVID-19 as well as cooperation in the area of hydrogen and on the international stage, among others.

2. Minister Kang extended congratulations to Minister Mahuta, the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, on her inauguration and expressed wish for the success of the 2021 APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit, of which the chair country will be New Zealand.

° Minister Kang also asked for active participation of New Zealand in the 2^nd Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, which the government of the Republic of Korea will host in 2021.

3. Minister Kang and Minister Mahuta took note of the progress in COVID-19 response by the ROK and New Zealand and agreed to continue cooperation through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility for an equitable access and distribution of vaccines.

4. The two Ministers shared the understanding that, as the ROK and New Zealand, both of which have announced the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, have strong points in hydrogen technology and the production of green hydrogen respectively, they have a great potential for cooperation; and agreed to make efforts to expand cooperation in the area of hydrogen.

5. Minister Kang and Minister Mahuta agreed to communicate and cooperate closely with each other so that the two countries can further expand and advance their friendly and cooperative relations as valuable regional partners for each other.