The 2010 meeting of heads of overseas missions was held in Seoul on February 8-12 with a total 117 mission chiefs including ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary. Nineteen newly appointed or nominated mission heads took part in the meeting, while a separate meeting for consuls general took place on February 22-24.

The meeting consisted of in-depth presentations and ensuing discussions on the government’s administrative direction, current inter-Korean relations and security situation; focused deliberations on strategies for effective pursuit of this year’s priority tasks, namely, widening the horizon of summit diplomacy, successfully hosting the G20 Summit, enhancing Korea’s role in the international community, supporting overseas activities of Korean people and companies; and broad and substantive discussions on action plans of overseas missions to prepare for the G20 Summit this November and attract other major international events, increase parliamentary diplomacy and cultural exchange, and elevate the national stature.

Furthermore, measures were sought for overseas missions to function as sales representatives as part of strengthened diplomatic efforts toward?economic recovery.

The participants’ schedule included the following: a plenary session on the direction of national administration and major projects; a workshop on this year’s priority tasks in diplomacy followed by separate meetings on each of the tasks; a luncheon forum to be chaired by the Prime Minister and meetings with business people organized to strengthen diplomacy for an economic recovery; and a gathering with leaders of the cultural sector and a luncheon to be hosted by the National Assembly Speaker; a visit to the National Intelligence Service and the Ministry of National Defense; and a dinner at Cheong Wa Dae.

In the plenary session, the participants listened to presentations by relevant government agencies on the direction of national administration; the current inter-Korean relations; progress in the preparations for the?G20 Summit; voting rights of Korean citizens abroad; the globalization of Korean cuisine; enhancement of the national brand; bids to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2022 World Cup; and preparations for the Expo 2012 Yeosu.

The Central Officials Training Institute hosted a workshop on February 8-9, during which separate sessions were held on the major diplomatic objectives for the year 2010, the New Asia Initiative and boosting diplomacy in Africa.

The subsequent meeting focused on ways to support efforts toward the successful hosting of the G20 Summit; advance development cooperation; render diplomatic support for securing energy and resources; and lead work on climate change and green growth.

On February 8, the Prime Minister chaired a luncheon forum to explore ways that overseas missions can function as sales representatives. Relevant government agencies and business leaders also participated in the forum. The schedule for February 10 includes a luncheon to be hosted by business-group heads and one-on-one meetings between mission heads and businesspeople. The meetings served as opportunities for mission chiefs with sufficient first-hand experience to provide consultations for businesses on their matters of interest such as exchange of information on the market of mission heads’ host countries, and to help them win orders and overcome challenges.

As part of strengthened support efforts by overseas missions toward an economic recovery, the mission heads debriefed relevant government agencies on nuclear-power and defense-product exports and sought ways to promote them.

During their tour of the Ministry of National Defense and the National Intelligence Service on February 9,the participants were briefed on Korea’s national-defense policies and security situation.