<기사제목>1st Vice Minister Jo Se-young Holds Phone Talks with Deputy Foreign Ministers of the US, Japan, Australia, and 7 Countries... Discusses Cooperation Measures Including Support for Overseas Koreans

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the morning of the 27th, Cho Se-young, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a 40-minute phone consultation with deputy foreign ministers from the region, including the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, and India.

This was the second deputy foreign ministers' phone consultation following the one held on the 20th, attended by Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State; Shigeo Yamada, Director-General for Global Affairs at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Frances Adamson, Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Chris Seed, Deputy Secretary of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Harsh Shringla, Senior Deputy Foreign Secretary of India; and Bui Thanh Son, Senior Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam.

The participating deputy foreign ministers shared updates on the COVID-19 spread and quarantine measures in their respective countries and exchanged views on future cooperation related to support for overseas nationals' return and humanitarian assistance.

Vice Minister Cho explained that although the overall downward trend in new confirmed cases in Korea is being maintained, in response to the recent increase in imported cases, the Korean government is strengthening entry quarantine while making efforts to protect global value chains and balance quarantine with economic activities.

Furthermore, Vice Minister Cho introduced that the Korean government has been implementing strengthened 'social distancing' measures from the 22nd of last month until the 5th of next month, aiming for school reopening in early April, and added that efforts are being made in parallel to ensure smooth daily economic activities for the public.

He emphasized that Korea's quarantine policy core is to continue intensive diagnostic testing and tracing efforts to move toward a lifestyle quarantine compatible with daily life.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "The deputy ministers agreed to continue close communication and cooperation for COVID-19 response through future phone consultations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.