1. On June 18, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan held the 6th Meeting of the ROK-India Joint Commission
with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, who is paying an official visit to Korea on June 17-18.
2. In the Meeting, the two Foreign Ministers focused on progress of various cooperation projects, which
the two countries agreed to pursue during President Lee Myung-bak’s state visit to India last January.
They also had a broad exchange of views on the current situation of the Korean peninsula and on
ways to work together on the international stage.
ο Noting with satisfaction marked recent strides in the ROK-India relationship in various fields, the two
Foreign Ministers agreed to promote bilateral dialogue channels and high-level officials’ exchange as
the relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership last January. In this vein, they expected that
the Korean trip by the Indian Defense Minister, scheduled for the second half of this year, will help
further bolster cooperation in the defense field.
ο Taking note of successful implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA), in effect since last January, the two Ministers expressed confidence that, in view of the 70-
percent increase in the bilateral trade volume over the last four months since the effectuation of CEPA,
the two countries will be able to attain the goal of reaching US$30 billion in trade in 2014.
ο With regard to the need for cooperation in expanding trade and investment, Minister Yu requested the
Indian side’s continued interest in and support for smooth progress in POSCO’s steel-mill construction
project in India. He also asked for support for a Korean bank’s bid to open a branch in India to provide
seamless financial services for Korean firms in the country. Also, the two Ministers agreed to work for
the conclusion of an agreement on double-taxation avoidance; on maritime transport; on social
security; and on visa simplification for businessmen.
ο Expressing satisfaction with steady strides in civil nuclear-energy cooperation, the two Ministers
agreed on launching inter-governmental working-level negotiations on a ROK-India agreement on
nuclear-energy cooperation. Further, they agreed to work closely together on the implementation of
an MOU on peaceful use of space, signed during the Korean President’s state visit to India this
January, and on the establishment of a science-technology cooperation fund.
ο In addition to cooperation in discussions at regional cooperation bodies such as ARF (ASEAN
Regional Forum) and ASEAN+3/EAS (East Asia Summit), the two Minister agreed to work together
for the success of the G20 Seoul Summit this November and in addressing climate change and
others on the international stage.
ο With regard to the Cheonan incident, Minister Yu extended appreciation for India’s issuance of a
statement supporting the Korean position upon the announcement of the investigation results. The
two Ministers agreed to consult closely on the international community’s response to this incident.
3. During Minister Krishna’s visit to Korea, the two sides concluded a cooperation MOU between the
two countries’ government agencies overseeing small- and medium-sized enterprises; between the
Korea Foundation and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations; and between the Institute of Foreign
Affairs and National Security and the Indian Council for World Affairs.
4. Foreign Minister Krishna invited the Korean Foreign Minister to visit his country at a mutually
convenient time in 2011 for the 7th Meeting of the ROK-India Joint Commission, which Minister
Yu accepted.
5. The 6th Meeting of the ROK-India Joint Commission, the first of its kind since the upgrading of the
ROK-India relationship to a strategic partnership as agreed during the Korean President’s state visit
to India last January, is seen to have served as an arena for in-depth discussions on ways to
strengthen substantive cooperation in various fields.
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT
* unofficial translation