Press Briefing

Deputy Spokesperson Kim Deuk-hwan

March 7, 2019  14:30  KST 

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will host the “Luncheon with African Ambassadors” at the Minister’s official residence on March 8 for this year’s first event for exchanges with the diplomatic corps in the ROK.

Minister Kang will invite ambassadors of 20 African countries in the ROK to the event, and make efforts to diversify the ROK’s diplomacy towards Africa, which is emerging following the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

At the event, Minister Kang will exchange views with the African Diplomatic Corps in the ROK on ways to strengthen cooperation between the ROK and Africa, and share the results of a public opinion survey on foreign policy towards Africa conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea-Africa Foundation for diplomacy together with the people.

Moving on to the next topic, the signing ceremony of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Georgia on Economic Cooperation will take place on March 11.

Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho and Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Genadi Arveladze will sign the agreement.

Under the agreement, the two countries will explore the possibility of joint projects in areas of mutual interest, including investment, trade, tourism and industry, and continue to work together to increase people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The two sides will also establish a joint committee to effectively implement the agreement and to step up economic cooperation between the two countries.

Thank you.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation