ROK-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd visited Korea on November 2 to pay a courtesy call on the President and for a Korea-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the two sides exchanged views on such bilateral issues as “2011: Korea-Australia Friendship Year,” high-level officials’ exchange, FTA negotiations, and the Action Plan for the Korea-Australia Joint Statement on Enhanced Global and Security Cooperation; and on regional and international matters of common interest, including the North Korean nuclear issue and regional cooperation in East Asia. Korea and Australia, both G20 members, have worked closely together for the success of the G20 Seoul Summit. With the year 2011 marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Australia, Korea’s largest trade and investment partner in the mineral resources sector and one of Koreans’ most preferred destinations for studies, immigration and tourism, “Korea-Australia Friendship Year” events will be held with the expectation that they would help promote mutual understanding and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.