1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha chaired the 18^th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in a virtual format at 2 p.m., February 3 (Korea Standard Time).

o At the meeting, Korea, which has served as the MIKTA chair since February last year, ended its chairmanship, and the MIKTA member states took stock of MIKTA’s achievements over the last year and discussed the way forward.

2. Participants noted with appreciation that the five MIKTA countries, under the leadership of Korea, have repeatedly sent a message of global solidarity and cooperation even in the difficult situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thereby enhanced MIKTA’s standing and role. They also agreed to maintain the momentum for MIKTA’s development through close collaboration among the member states following the handover of chairmanship from Korea to Australia.

o Foreign Minister Kang explained that Korea, as the chair for the 2020-2021 term, further enhanced MIKTA’s standing through President Moon Jae-in’s statement on behalf of MIKTA at the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the United Nations, which was the first-ever MIKTA statement made at the head of state level at the UN, and that Korea also expanded the areas of cooperation, including by launching dialogue channels on public health, development cooperation, women and families, and academia, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She went on to say that Korea also held annual events as planned, including the Speakers' Consultation, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the Senior Officials’ Meeting.

o Australia stated that, as the next chair, it will lead MIKTA’s activities with a focus on response to COVID-19 and recovery, gender equality, and climate and environment, building upon Korea’s achievements.

o Participants jointly noted that Korea showed leadership in elevating MIKTA’s standing through the MIKTA statement at the head of state level on the international stage and in further expanding the areas of cooperation. They also agreed to keep the momentum for MIKTA’s development through close communication among the member states following the handover of chairmanship.

3. At the meeting, the member states adopted the Joint Communiqué in which they expressed satisfaction over a number of achievements over the last year and reaffirmed MIKTA’s commitment to contributing to various global issues, including strengthening multilateralism, health security, development cooperation, climate and environment, human rights, economic and trade affairs, and peace and security.