1. On April 16, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met bilaterally with his counterparts -- Ivica Dacic from Serbia, Bert Koenders from the Netherlands, and Julie Bishop from Australia -- on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Cyberspace 2015 in The Hague. Minister Yun also had pleasant conversations with his counterparts from Thailand, Ukraine, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, and Ghana, as well as with the vice foreign ministers of New Zealand, Turkey, and Japan, and held extensive discussions on issues of mutual concern, including bilateral relations and global issues.

2. In his meeting with Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Koenders, Minister Yun extended congratulations on successfully holding the Global Conference on Cyberspace 2015 and noted with appreciation that the bilateral relations between the two countries were elevated to a higher level through mutual visits of their heads of state last year. The two sides agreed to work together to smoothly implement follow-up measures to the summits, including by resuming high-level policy consultations between the two countries.

o The two sides also agreed to continue to cooperate in responses to climate change, including designing a sustainable and effective new climate regime and meeting commitments to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). They decided to closely work together as major countries in the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) in setting and implementing the post-2015 development agenda.

3. In his meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Bishop, Minister Yun took note that the two countries have seen the progress and expansion of substantive cooperation since the effectuation of the ROK-Australia FTA last year. The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in security and defense following the ROK-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers' (2+2) meeting to be held in Australia this year. They also decided to closely cooperate in negotiating an agreement on the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

o Furthermore, the two sides noted with appreciation that MIKTA (partnership among Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia) is becoming institutionalized rapidly and its visibility is improving in the international community. They decided to make joint efforts to successfully hold the 5th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, to be held in Seoul in May, and continue to develop the cooperative mechanism.

4. In their meeting, Minister Yun and his Serbian counterpart Dacic agreed to continue to cooperate to further enhance the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries, which was reaffirmed on the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year. They shared the view that in doing so, the two countries need to expand high-level exchanges, hold policy consultations, cooperate on the international stage including the UN, and establish institutional bases for improving the business environment, including an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, an investment promotion and protection agreement, and an air services agreement. 


                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation