Press Briefing
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs
Choi Youngsam
June 30, 2022 14:30 KST
Good afternoon. Let
me start today’s briefing.
First, on Monday
morning, July 4, Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin will meet with Secretary
of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard, who will visit Korea from
July 3 to 6.
In the upcoming
meeting, the two sides will discuss the way forward to develop the bilateral
relations between Korea and Mexico, which mark the 60th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year; ways to increase trade
and investment, including negotiations on the Korea-Mexico Free Trade Agreement
(FTA); and ways to expand substantive cooperation in the supply chains,
economic security, health and medical service, and aerospace. During the
meeting, Foreign Minister Park will also actively ask the Mexican side for its support
for Korea’s bid to host the World Expo in Busan.
In addition,
immediately after the meeting, the two sides will sign a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) on development cooperation between Korea and Mexico, thereby strengthening
the institutional foundation for the two countries to conduct trilateral
cooperation projects in other regions.
Next, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Park Jin will deliver opening remarks at the 2022 Korea-LAC
Future Cooperation Forum to be held in Busan on Tuesday, July 5.
At the forthcoming
Forum, around 200 participants, including ministerial and vice ministerial-level
officials from major LAC countries, high-level Korean government officials,
academics, and entrepreneurs, will discuss various ways for cooperation between
Korea and the LAC region in economic security as well as ways for country-specific
cooperation in the digital transformation, infrastructure, the green industry,
and agriculture and fisheries industries.
In his opening
remarks, Foreign Minister Park will offer congratulations on the 60th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and 15
LAC countries this year, express the new Korean government’s will to strengthen
cooperation with the LAC region, and ask the LAC countries for their support
for Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan.
Next, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Park Jin will visit Singapore from Tuesday, July 5, to
Thursday, July 7.
Foreign Minister
Park will meet with Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and Minister
for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, and discuss ways to enhance bilateral
cooperation and exchange views on key global issues, including the situations
in Myanmar and Ukraine.
Foreign Minister
Park’s visit to Singapore, which marks the Korean Foreign Minister’s first
visit to an ASEAN country since the inauguration of the new Korean government,
is expected to serve as an opportunity to explore ways to work together in new
areas including the digital sector and to reaffirm the Korean government’s
commitment to strengthening cooperation with ASEAN.
Next, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Park Jin will attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be
held in Bali, Indonesia, from Thursday, July 7, to Friday, July 8.
Indonesia, which
holds the G20 Presidency for this year, is stressing the promotion of
multilateralism to respond to global crises under the theme of the G20 Summit
“Recover Together, Recover Stronger." At the upcoming Foreign Ministers’
Meeting, participants will hold discussions on “Strengthening Multilateralism”
and “Addressing Food and Energy Security”.
On this occasion,
Foreign Minister Park will attend the 21st MIKTA Foreign Ministers’
Meeting, which will also be held in Bali on Thursday afternoon, July 7.
The upcoming
Meeting will be chaired by Türkiye, formerly called Turkey, which holds the
chairmanship of MIKTA. The foreign ministers of the five MIKTA countries will
exchange views on the developments in Ukraine, food security, and migration. The
Meeting is expected to serve as an opportunity to deepen the concrete cooperation
among MIKTA countries on the international stage.
Furthermore, on
Friday afternoon, July 8, Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin will hold his
first meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno L.P.
Marsudi since his inauguration.
In the meeting, the
two Foreign Ministers will discuss ways to advance the bilateral relations
between Korea and Indonesia, which forged the Special Strategic Partnership and
will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations next year, and exchange views on the situations on the
Korean Peninsula and in other major regions.
Bilateral meetings
with other countries on the occasion of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting are
being coordinated. We will let you know as soon as the entire plan is
finalized.
Lastly, Vice
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Dohoon will attend the Ukraine Recovery
Conference to be held in Lugano, Switzerland, from Monday, July 4, to Tuesday,
July 5.
The upcoming Conference,
the first high-level international meeting on the reconstruction and recovery
of Ukraine, will bring together representatives from around 40 countries and
major international organizations, including the President of Ukraine, who will
attend virtually.
In his remarks at a
plenary session on Tuesday, July 5, Vice Foreign Minister Lee will reaffirm
Korea’s solidarity with Ukraine, explain Korea’s assistance towards Ukraine and
neighboring countries so far, and actively express Korea’s interest and commitment
to support the reconstruction and recovery efforts in Ukraine.
(A
question-and-answer session followed.)