1. During her visit to the Kingdom of Thailand for ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha held a bilateral meeting with Union Minister for International Cooperation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Kyaw Tin on July 31. In the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the Republic of Korea (ROK)-Myanmar relations; the ASEAN-ROK and Mekong-ROK cooperation; and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

2. The two Ministers noted with appreciation that the friendly and cooperative relationship between the ROK and Myanmar has advanced substantially across the board since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975; and agreed to deepen and expand cooperation through active high-level exchanges between the two countries.

° Minister Kang extended congratulations to Myanmar on the recent inscription of the Bagan historical site as a UNESCO World Heritage along with Seowon of the ROK; noted that the number of Korean visitors to Myanmar has grown since Myanmar started to grant visa waivers to Korean tourists in 2018; and expressed hope for a continued increase in cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

° In response, Union Minister Kyaw Tin expressed deep appreciation to the ROK for its support and cooperation in the restoration and management of the Bagan historical site, as well as hope that the momentum of expanding people-to-people exchanges between the two countries will continue.

3. Minister Kang spoke about the ROK’s ongoing government-wide efforts to hold a successful 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and 1^st Mekong-ROK Summit in November 2019, and asked for continued participation and support of ASEAN, including Myanmar.

° Union Minister Kyaw Tin welcomed the two upcoming events and voiced hope that the events will help create a new milestone in advancing the ASEAN-ROK relations and in Mekong-ROK cooperation.

4. Minister Kang explained the ROK government’s recent efforts to make progress in the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including holding the meeting of the top leaders of the ROK, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States; extended appreciation to ASEAN, including Myanmar, for its strong support for the peace process on the Korean Peninsula; and asked for continued support of the Myanmarese government.

° Union Minister Kyaw Tin mentioned that the Myanmarese government will remain supportive of the ROK government’s efforts to move forward the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, commending the ROK government’s efforts to achieve progress toward complete denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

- Minister Kang stressed that the recent measures to impose export restrictions of retaliatory nature against the ROK pose a challenge to free trade norms and the regional co-prosperity, and asked the ASEAN countries, including Myanmar, to pay attention to this issue for a smooth resolution. Union Minister Kyaw Tin agreed with Minister Kang on the importance of the free trade order as well as of the resolution through dialogue and consultations.