1. First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong and his Slovakian counterpart Peter Burian held a vice ministerial-level consultation in Seoul on March 17 and engaged in a broad exchange of views on the ROK-Slovakia relations, the ROK-Visegrad Group (V4) cooperation, and regional and global situations.

2. The two Vice Ministers noted with appreciation that the relations between the two countries have significantly developed since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993. They agreed to work together for close cooperation in economy to expand to other areas, including politics, society and culture.

o Vice Minister Cho took note of close economic and trade relations between the two countries, citing that Slovakia is the ROK’s largest trading partner in Central Europe and the ROK is the biggest investor in Slovakia among non-EU countries. Vice Minister Cho also requested the Slovakian government’s continued interest and support to ensure smooth business operations of about 80 Korean companies in Slovakia.

3. Sharing the view that cultural and people-to-people exchanges significantly contribute to deepening and enhancing bilateral relations by helping the peoples of the two countries better understand each other, the two sides signed the Implementing Programme for Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education, Sport and Tourism between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. The two sides agreed to continue to make efforts to increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including by holding various cultural events and concluding an agreement on cooperation in youth exchange.

4. The two Vice Ministers expressed satisfaction over the enhancement of bilateral cooperation in a mutually-beneficial manner in regional cooperative bodies, including the EU and the Visegrad Group (V4). They agreed to continue to consolidate such multi-level cooperative mechanism.

o Vice Minister especially requested the Slovakian side’s continued interest and support so that the ROK and the V4 can facilitate closer cooperation during Slovakia’s term as the V4 chair.

5. In addition, the two sides exchanged views on regional and global situations, including the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, as well as the Ukraine crisis. 


            Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation