At the 4th FEALAC (Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on January 16-17, Korea proposed to set up and manage a cyber secretariat in the country to facilitate on-line communication within FEALAC. The proposal, having secured unanimous support from the FEALAC members, will be materialized.

FEALAC, a multilateral, government-level consultative framework established in 1999 to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between East Asia and South and Central America, is comprised of 34 member states; 16 East Asian and 18 Latin American, including its newest member Mongolia. Operated without a secretariat and a budget of its own, the Forum is administered via a unique mechanism, with its members conducting their own “FEALAC co-projects” with their own budget.

The installation and management of the envisioned cyber secretariat in Korea, an updated version of the official FEALAC website ( www.fealac.org ) established by Korea according to the decision made at the 3rd Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2007, is expected to help Korea enhance its standing within FEALAC.

Korea negotiated with the FEALAC Coordinating Council, acting as the Forum’s executive board, to include the host country of the cyber-secretariat as an ex-officio, allowing it to take part in all FEALAC activities on a permanent basis unlike Coordinators, which are replaced every two years.

Korea plans to play a leading role within FEALAC as well as act as a bridge between the two regions through efficient operation and use of the cyber secretariat.

Cyberspace will be set up for member countries to consult on FEALAC matters through discussion of agenda items and schedules as well as reviews of drafts of final reports on meetings.