Korea-India Foreign Ministers Video Conference... Request for Cooperation on 'Exceptional Entry Permission'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the evening of the 19th, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held a video conference with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to exchange views on bilateral and multilateral cooperation measures related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the future direction of bilateral relations.

Minister Kang and Minister Jaishankar shared information on the COVID-19 situation and response directions in both countries, and evaluated that close cooperation between the two countries in responding to COVID-19 has been carried out in various forms, including support for the return of overseas nationals, export of diagnostic kits, and consultations among seven countries in the region.

Minister Kang then stated that this year marks the meaningful 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War (6·25), and expressed hope that through the Korean government’s mask support for Indian troops and their families who participated in the war, gratitude could be conveyed.

In response to Minister Jaishankar’s introduction of the status of COVID-19 spread prevention in India through applications for tracking confirmed and contact cases, Minister Kang expressed agreement on the importance of digital infrastructure for COVID-19 response and stated that the two countries should closely share their experiences and information. She also expressed gratitude to the Indian side for actively cooperating and supporting the smooth return of Korean nationals in India despite lockdown conditions, and mentioned hope that the two countries will continue to cooperate in the process of returning overseas nationals in the future.

Furthermore, both ministers actively agreed that overcoming the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic requires not only bilateral cooperation between Korea and India but also global solidarity and cooperation, and decided to strengthen global response cooperation through multilateral consultative bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Minister Kang emphasized that once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes, cooperation in all areas including diplomacy, security, and economy between the two countries should be promoted with speed, while requesting the Indian side’s cooperation and support to allow exceptional entry for urgent visits by Korean nationals to India even under the current circumstances.

Minister Jaishankar responded that he hopes Korean companies can continue their economic activities in India, and suggested that the two governments closely communicate and consult on ways to guarantee essential economic activities while respecting quarantine principles to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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