1st Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo visited Ecuador on April 21-22 and Peru on April 23-24. During his visits to the two Latin American countries, the Vice Foreign Minister discussed issues of common interest and measures to promote bilateral relations.
In Ecuador, Vice Foreign Minister Shin met with Acting Foreign Minister Lautaro Pozo-Malo on April 22 and agreed to work on Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa’s visit to Korea to further advance the bilateral relationship.
Vice Foreign Minister Shin with his Ecuadorian counterpart Lautaro Pozo-Malo The two Vice Ministers agreed on working to promote economic and trade cooperation. In particular, consultations will be held to help Korean firms, participate in Ecuador’s energy, resources and infrastructure projects.
Vice Minister Shin asked Ecuador to make an early decision on whether to participate in the World Expo 2012 in Yeosu themed “The Living Ocean and Coast,” to which Vice Minister Pozo replied that the Ecuadorian government had decided to take part in the event.
Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo visited Peru on April 23-24 and paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde on April 23. Following the courtesy call, he had a meeting and a working luncheon with Vice Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio Bardales, and another meeting with Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Eduardo Ferreyros.
Vice Foreign Minister Shin with his Peruvian counterpart Nestor Popolizio Bardales During the courtesy call on the Foreign Minister and the meeting between the Vice Ministers, the two sides noted with satisfaction that President Lee Myung-bak’s state visit to Peru in November 2008 and his Peruvian counterpart Garcia’s November 2009 state visit to Korea contributed to further
strengthening comprehensive partnership between the two countries. They then agreed to continue work for an early conclusion of a Korea-Peru FTA and expanded cooperation in resources, energy and infrastructure.
In the meeting with Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Eduardo Ferreyros, the two sides noted that the past four rounds of formal FTA negotiations have established the foundation for the conclusion of negotiations. They agreed to hold additional negotiations at an early date to expedite the conclusion of Korea-Peru FTA negotiations.
