1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jongmoon visited Washington D.C. from July 19 to 22 to discuss the key outcomes of the recent ROK-U.S. Summit, including the KORUS Global Vaccine Partnership (for COVID-19 response), cooperation in science, technology and supply chains, and a linkage between the ROK’s New Southern Policy and the U.S.’ vision for the Indo-Pacific, as well as joint official development assistance (ODA) efforts.

¡ Vice Minister Choi met with Mr. Daleep Singh, Deputy National Security Advisor of the National Security Council (NSC), and discussed ways to foster global vaccine supply and to support the two countries’ supply chain resilience, particularly regarding semiconductors and EV batteries.

¡ Vice Minister Choi also met with various officials from the U.S. administration and Congress, including Ms. Samantha Power, Administrator of the USAID; Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, Acting Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment; Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee; and Mr. Don Beyer, Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.

¡ Vice Minister Choi also visited Novavax and met with its CEO, Mr. Stanley Erck, to discuss ways to foster global vaccine production.

2. On the occasion of this visit, Vice Minister Choi participated in the 4^th ROK-U.S. Joint Public-Private Economic Forum and delivered a keynote speech on the bilateral alliance leading the recovery and restructuring of the global order.

¡ In his speech, Vice Minister Choi noted that the ROK-U.S. alliance, which had started with a political and military vision, had later shifted its focus to a set of shared values and has now become an alliance of science and technology. Vice Minister Choi emphasized the need for the ROK and the U.S. to work together in leading global economic recovery and in coping with challenges the two countries may face in the post-COVID-19 era.