Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski on March 15. They congratulated each other on their inauguration and exchanged views on the areas of mutual interests including bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The two Ministers expressed their satisfaction on strong relations between Korea and Poland in strategic fields such as the defense industry and nuclear energy, and agreed to continue to work together to further develop the cooperation.

Minister Sikorski emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in the defense industry and stated that the new government in Poland respects the contracts agreed during the previous government and will implement them. Minister Cho explained that with regards to the financial support for defense industry cooperation, an issue raised by the Polish government, an amendment to the Export-Import Bank of Korea Act has recently been passed at the National Assembly, and thus increased the capital of the bank. Minister Cho wished that this will facilitate second executive contracts in the near future.

Minister Cho also stressed that Korea is the best partner to Poland in the field of nuclear energy, with its on-time and on-budget construction capacity, and asked for the Polish government’s support to ensure smooth progress of bilateral cooperation in the nuclear power plant construction projects in Poland.    

Minister Sikorski extended his appreciation to Korea’s support for Ukraine, and asked for continued support. Minister Cho confirmed that the Korean government will continue its efforts for humanitarian and financial assistance for Ukraine, as well as for its restoration and reconstruction.

Minister Sikorski congratulated Korea on assuming its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council and appreciated Korea’s role and contribution to the international community. Minister Cho stressed that Korea’s non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council provides a good opportunity to increase its contribution to the international peace and security and therefore the Korean government will actively seek to play its role.

Also, the two Ministers agreed to work together to further facilitate high-level exchanges between the two countries.