1. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han will visit Senegal, Morocco and Cambodia on May 3-13. In each country, he will discuss bilateral issues and ways to work more closely together; attend commemorative cultural events for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations; and visit the project sites of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to offer words of encouragement to the volunteers.

2. During his visit to Senegal on May 3-6, Vice Minister Kim will meet with the Ministers or Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Economy and Finance to discuss ways to step up substantive cooperation between the two countries in fisheries, electricity and information technology (IT). He will also visit the cultural and educational center for children operated with the support of KOICA and offer words of encouragement to the KOICA volunteers. In addition, he is scheduled to attend the celebratory events for the 50th anniversary of the ROK-Senegal diplomatic relations, which will feature performances by a b-boy team and a percussion troupe from the ROK as well as traditional dance and music of Senegal.

3. Vice Minister Kim will then visit Morocco on May 6-9. He will meet with Morocco’s Foreign Minister and Vice Minister on ways to facilitate ROK companies’ entry into the Moroccan market and to work together in new and renewable energy. Vice Minister Kim will also attend the celebratory events for the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations, which will feature performances by b-boy teams of the two countries, and visit the Morocco Korean Center of ICT Training to meet with Vice Education Minister Belkasmi and learn about difficulties facing the KOICA volunteers.

4. Vice Minister Kim will last visit Cambodia on May 10-12 to meet with ministerial or vice-ministerial officials in charge of foreign affairs as well as economy and finance to discuss such bilateral issues as ways to work more closely together in government affairs, economy and development. Vice Minister Kim will also visit the site of the KOICA and EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund) project conducted with official development assistance from the ROK and offer words of encouragement to the staff.

5. The three-country tour is part of a “total and complex diplomacy” that seeks to attain overarching diplomatic objectives – cultural diplomacy to spread Hallyu, the popularity of the K-pop culture, through the commemorative events marking the 50th diplomatic anniversary; business diplomacy to help the ROK companies tap overseas markets; and contributive diplomacy to the international community through development cooperation. The tour is expected to contribute to laying the foundation for friendship and cooperation between the ROK and the promising developing countries.

                                       Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation