1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar H.E. Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi held the 1^st Republic of Korea-Qatar Policy Consultation in Seoul on November 3, and discussed ways to strengthen the ROK-Qatar relations, substantive cooperation between the two countries, and ways to work together on the global stage, as well as regional issues.

2. Both sides took note that the two countries have expanded their areas of cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974, and appreciated that the two countries are closely cooperating and communicating with each other despite the current COVID-19 situation including through high-level meetings.

∘ Both sides agreed to continue their working-level consultations such as pursuing cooperation projects in order to upgrade their “Comprehensive Partnership” to a strategic partnership.

3. Both sides took note that the two countries have maintained their mutually beneficial cooperative relations in the fields of energy and infrastructure, and agreed upon the necessity of expanding their areas of cooperation to trade and investment, renewable energy, healthcare, agriculture, etc.

4. The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation on the global stage, such as in elections of international organizations and climate change, and also shared views on the situations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

∘ Vice Minister Choi appreciated that Qatar has emerged as a diplomatic hub in the Middle East since it acted as an important intermediary in the latest situation in Afghanistan.

5. This meeting, which was the first Policy Consultation between the ROK and Qatar, served as an opportunity to strengthen strategic communication between the two countries.