1. Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs Koh Kyung-sok held the 2^nd Korea-Rwanda policy dialogue with Mr. Phillip Karenzi, Director General of Asia and Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, in a virtual format on the afternoon of December 2, and exchanged views on COVID-19 response, development and economic cooperation, cooperation on the international stage, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

2. Director General Karenzi expressed appreciation to the Korean government, saying that the government’s assistance to Rwanda including test kits and masks has been of great help in Rwanda’s response to COVID-19, and said that Rwanda hopes to continue to cooperate with Korea.

3. The two sides noted that Korea and Rwanda have been smoothly carrying out development cooperation projects including the construction of the National University of Rwanda and the expansion of electricity grid. They also welcomed the recent signing of the Korea-Rwanda air services agreement and suggested that the two countries continue to cooperate in development and aviation based on such friendly and cooperative relations.

o Furthermore, while preparing for the policy dialogue, the two countries agreed on a draft Korea-Rwanda agreement for the avoidance of double taxation, and agreed to swiftly proceed with domestic procedures required for the signing of the agreement. The agreement is expected to help facilitate economic exchanges between the two countries.

4. Director-General Koh explained the current status of preparations for the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, the 2021 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, and the 5^th Korea-Africa Forum, to be held in Korea next year and asked for active participation and cooperation from Rwanda.

5. The 2^nd Korea-Rwanda policy dialogue, held in five years after the 1^st one in 2015, served as a meaningful opportunity to assess bilateral relations and ask for Rwanda’s support and attention to the international events to be held in Korea next year.