Mikta Five Countries' Foreign Ministers Joint Statement on 'COVID-19 Response'... Expressing Will for Solidarity and Cooperation

Adopted on Korea's Proposal... "Considering the Need for Exchanges for Humanitarian, Scientific, and Essential Economic Activities" Included

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign ministers of the five MIKTA countries, including South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, and Australia, issued a joint statement on June 9 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and international health.

Adopted at the proposal of South Korea, the chair country of MIKTA this year, the joint statement expressed the MIKTA foreign ministers' commitment to solidarity among member countries and participation in international policy cooperation to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, the joint statement included a provision recognizing the need to cooperate with the international community to coordinate responses in a way that does not cause unnecessary disruptions to international travel and trade, and to facilitate the movement of people and goods for humanitarian, scientific, and essential economic activities within the scope that does not undermine each country's quarantine measures.

It also reflected the recognition that openness, transparency, and democracy, which the South Korean government has emphasized since the early stages of the COVID-19 response, are key factors in encouraging citizens' participation in quarantine measures.

This joint statement was adopted as the South Korean government recently strengthened communication and cooperation for COVID-19 response through a series of consultations with major countries. It is evaluated as an opportunity to confirm the solidarity of MIKTA member countries in overcoming the global health crisis and their intention to cooperate in the health sector going forward.

The South Korean government has maintained active communication with MIKTA member countries including Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, and Australia. In line with this statement, on June 16, South Korea plans to hold a virtual meeting of MIKTA Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) representatives to share each country's COVID-19 response experiences and discuss cooperation measures in the health sector among the five countries.

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