Photo: YNA. ROK Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kang Kyung-wha
On May 19, Kang Kyung-wha, ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, had a video conference regarding COVID-19. The two sides shared views on ways for bilateral and multilateral cooperation to fight against the pandemic and strengthen bilateral relations.
During the meeting, the ministers shared their situation and response measures related to COVID-19. The two sides appreciated the cooperation between the two countries against the crisis through supporting the repatriation of their nationals abroad, exporting test kits, and holding consultations among seven countries in the region. Kang reminded that this year was the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War and expressed hope that the face masks provided by the ROK government for Indian troops who fought in the Korean War and their families could convey ROK’s gratitude for their aid. She also thanked Jaishankar for the smooth repatriation of Korean nationals in India amid the lockdown.
Moreover, the ministers agreed that while bilateral cooperation between the ROK and India is important, global solidarity and collaboration are crucial in overcoming the unprecedented crisis of the pandemic. They expressed their will to strengthen global cooperation in tackling the virus through multilateral consultative forums, including the WHO. Lastly, Kang said Korea wishes to expedite bilateral cooperation in various areas, including diplomacy, security, and economic affairs once the spread of the virus curbs and situations stabilize. She also asked for exceptions to Korean nationals with an urgent need to visit India even under the current circumstances. Jaishankar responded by expressing hope for Korean companies to continue their economic activities in India and keep a healthy bilateral relationship between the two governments.
[Sources]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, R. of K. (2020, May 19). Outcome of Video Conference between Foreign Ministers of ROK and India View: Press ReleasesMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea. Retrieved from http://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/brd/m_5676/view.do?seq=321094
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