1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala Pedro Brolo Vila on the morning of April 22 at the latter’s request and exchanged views on ways for cooperation between the two countries on response to COVID-19.

2. Minister Kang mentioned that the COVID-19 situation has been stabilizing in the ROK, but it is not the time to lose vigilance yet. She went on to extend appreciation to the Guatemalan government for its active support for the safe return home of 73 Korean nationals in mid April.

° The Minister also explained that by holding an “ROK-Latin America web seminar on COVID-19 response” on April 21, the ROK had actively shared its experiences in preventing COVID-19 with Latin American countries, adding that the country will continue to increase cooperation on disease control through on- and off-line channels.

3. Minister Brolo, referring to the ROK’s experience of overcoming of COVID-19 as a leading example for the global community, voiced hope to fully learn from it. He added that as soon as the COVID-19 situation stabilizes in Guatemala, the Guatemalan government will give priority attention to allowing Korean business people’s visits to the country. 

4. Minister Kang mentioned that the ROK will further step up cooperation on response to COVID-19 with Guatemala, the former’s key partner in Central America, and asked for the Guatemalan government’s special attention to and support for about 7,000 Korean residents and business people in the country.

5. In the telephone conversation, the two Ministers, recognizing the need for continued cooperative relations between the two countries in responding to COVID-19, agreed to expand bilateral cooperation not only on health but also in substantive areas including economic revitalization.