(Unofficial Translation)

 Thank you everyone. I am happy to see many journalists here. I am grateful to Chancellor Kurz and the Austrian Government for warmly welcoming me and my delegation. Conversations with Chancellor Kurz are always vibrant. Our discussion was once again filled with our visions for the future just as it was during our meeting in Korea two years ago and during the P4G Seoul Summit two weeks ago.

 Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1892, Austria and Korea have advanced mutually beneficial cooperation while sharing such universal values as democracy, human rights and market economy. Today, the Chancellor and I agreed to elevate our two countries’ bilateral relations to a strategic partnership based on our long friendship and trust, and I am very pleased. 

 Moreover, we had in-depth talks on concrete ways to work together to respond effectively to new infectious diseases threatening the entire world and to lead successfully in the era of climate change and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 First, we agreed to take our two countries’ cooperative ties to a deeper, more advanced level in various fields such as the economy, science and technology, and culture and arts. The Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation signed today will increase transparency in business activities and contribute to expanding investments between our countries.

 After evaluating the implementation of the MOU on science and technology cooperation signed in Korea two years ago during Chancellor Kurz’s visit, we agreed to further strengthen substantive cooperation in ICT, 5G, other digital and new industries.

 In addition, as COVID-19 has temporarily halted people-to-people and cultural exchanges between our two countries, we concurred on the need to expand them further – beyond pre-pandemic levels. With both the cultural cooperation agreement and the MOU on promoting youth exchanges that were agreed upon today, I look forward to further expanding comprehensive cooperation, including in culture, arts, tourism and exchanges between future generations.

 Second, we reached an agreement to work more closely on common global tasks. To date, our two countries  have successfully responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with effective epidemic prevention measures and vaccine procurement. We agreed to continue to cooperate while sharing relevant experiences in order to overcome the pandemic.

 We also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation to resolve the climate crisis in addition to coordinated international efforts.

 The vision of an inclusive green recovery and carbon neutrality agreed to at the P4G Seoul Summit will become a goal and guideline that our two countries jointly pursue.

 The Chancellor and I agreed to actively cooperate to create synergy between the Digital Austria initiative and Austria’s 2040 climate neutrality goal and Korea’s Digital New Deal and Green New Deal.

 Finally, we exchanged views on recent developments on and around the Korean Peninsula and discussed ways to cooperate for peace and prosperity in the international community. I am deeply grateful to Chancellor Kurz and the Austrian Government for their consistent support for permanent peace on the Peninsula

 I hope that today’s meeting comes to mark a solid milestone in our two countries’ journey toward a peaceful and prosperous future.

 Thank you. 

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