1. On the afternoon of March 17, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun had a meeting with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala Carlos Martinez Alvarado, who was on a visit to Korea to attend a “Korea-LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) Digital Cooperation Forum,” and discussed an extensive range of issues including the relations between Korea and Guatemala, post-COVID-19 substantive cooperation and Korea-Central America cooperation.

2. Vice Minister Choi mentioned that Korea and Guatemala, Korea’s key partner in Central America with the largest number of Korean companies and residents in the region, have continued active exchanges despite the COVID-19 situation. He went on to voice hope that the two countries, of which the year 2022 will mark the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, would further promote their ties.

° Vice Minister Martinez relayed the Guatemalan government’s commitment to advancing the bilateral relations and particularly commended Korean companies in Guatemala for their great contribution to economic development and job creation in the country.

3. Vice Minister Choi stated that Korea has been increasing contribution to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) mechanism for an equitable distribution of vaccines and actively sharing its experiences with the international community in order to overcome COVID-19.

° Vice Minister Martinez extended deep appreciation to Korea for its cooperation and solidarity in Guatemala’s response to COVID-19 and recovery from hurricane damage.

4. Vice Minister Martinez expressed Guatemala’s will to join the Korea-Central America FTA as well as hope to increase the bilateral trade and investment.

° Vice Minister Choi, welcoming the idea, conveyed hope that discussions would move forward in meetings among relevant agencies.

5. Vice Minister Choi suggested that the two countries expand substantive cooperation mainly in such areas as health, transportation infrastructure and digital transformation by taking advantage of Korea’s accession to the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) in 2020.

° Vice Minister Martinez, welcoming the suggestion, voiced hope to share Korea’s development experiences and bolster development cooperation on health, education and digital infrastructure, among others.

6. Vice Minister Choi conveyed hope to enhance Korea-Central America cooperation in 2021, the bicentennial of the independence of Central American countries and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Central American Integration System (SICA), and particularly proposed advancing concrete cooperation on energy, digital transformation, infrastructure, and health.

° Vice Minister Martinez, saying that Guatemala will render active cooperation as it assumes the Presidency of Pro Tempore of SICA in the second half of this year, expressed hope to resume the Korea-SICA Meeting on Dialogue and Cooperation.

7. In the meeting, the two sides affirmed their commitment to increasing substantive cooperation projects between Korea and Guatemala in the post-COVID-19 era and to enhancing the relations between Korea and Central America, and agreed to continue consultations to that end.