Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Noh Kyu-duk

November 27, 2018  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

The “Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Forum 2018,” sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and co-hosted by the Sejong Institute and the Jeju Peace Institute, will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul.

At the forum, in which both the public and private sectors participate, participants will discuss multilateral dialogues on cooperation in Northeast Asia, confidence-building measures in the initial stages, and ways to realize an “East Asian railway community.” Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho will deliver congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony of the forum.

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Korea and Japan of the United States Mark Knapper, and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs Chen Hai of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China will attend the event in their capacity as government representatives.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Foreign Ministry will hold an intergovernmental meeting, bringing together delegates from governments and organizations to the forum. In the meeting, to be chaired by Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Yoon Soon-gu, the participants will discuss ways to step up multilateral cooperation in the region, and ways to build a “Northeast Asia Platform for Peace and Cooperation.”

The upcoming forum and intergovernmental meeting are expected to become meaningful forums for dialogues that can contribute to efforts of countries in the region to foster the momentum of multilateral cooperation and to build confidence.

Thank you.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation