1. On November 10, Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong had a meeting with Vice President and Foreign Minister of Colombia Marta Ramirez, who is on an official visit to Korea to attend the Korea-Pacific Alliance Green Economy Forum, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relation, substantive cooperation, the Korean Peninsula and Latin American regional issues.

2. Foreign Minister Chung noted with appreciation that President of Colombia Ivan Duque's state visit to Korea in August served as a valuable opportunity to develop bilateral relations into a future-oriented partnership, and agreed to further strengthen cooperative relations in various fields such as politics, industry, commerce, science and technology with next year marking 60 years of diplomatic relations.

- Foreign Minister Ramirez agreed on the progress in the development of bilateral relations, and appreciated the strengthened cooperation in the fields of defense, the defense industry and veterans affairs, with this year marking the 70th year of Colombia’s participation in the Korean War. In this regard, Foreign Minister Ramirez said she would express Colombia’s commitment to continuous cooperation for a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula by attending the UN Veterans Memorial Day ceremony to be held in Busan tomorrow.

3. Foreign Minister Chung recognized that the Korea-Colombia FTA, which went into effect in 2016, has contributed to the promotion of bilateral trade and investment, and suggested expanding cooperation for sustainable development and inclusive economic recovery in the post-COVID-19 era by operating FTA sub-commissions including on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and customs.

- Foreign Minister Ramirez noted that Korea's accession to the Pacific Alliance as an associate member would contribute to economic cooperation between the two countries and between Korea and Latin America and the Caribbean region, and expressed the willingness to continue to cooperate for Korea’s swift accession.

※ The Pacific Alliance was established in 2012 as a regional free trade bloc consisting of Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia. It is expected that Korea’s joining the PA as an associate member would lead to a new FTA between Korea and Mexico as well as improvements in its FTAs with Chile, Peru and Colombia.

4. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to work together to further promote exchanges and cooperation among businesses and the private sectors through the two governments’ cooperation projects in the areas of future industries such as bioeconomy, aerospace, shipbuilding and the marine industry, as the joint declaration that was adopted on the occasion of the bilateral summit in August presented the vision of an innovative partnership for economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

5. Foreign Minister Chung explained the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, and Foreign Minister Ramirez extended gratitude to Korea for its consistent support for Colombia’s efforts to respond to immigration issues in Latin America and the Caribbean region as well as for strengthening regional governance.

6. The two Foreign Ministers signed an Agreement concerning Activities of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund in the Republic of Colombia immediately after the meeting, and strengthened the institutional basis for expanding bilateral development cooperation in Colombia.

7. Vice President and Foreign Minister of Colombia Ramirez’s official visit to Korea and her meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong served as an opportunity to reaffirm the enhanced bilateral relations since the state visit of Colombian President Ivan Duque, and to contribute to accelerating substantive cooperation through a smooth implementation of follow-up measures to the summit.