Vice Minister Jo Se-young Holds Video Conference with Heads of Mission from Four Mercosur Countries... Requests Support for Korean Companies' Economic Activities

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 19th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it held a video conference chaired by First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Se-young with the heads of our diplomatic missions stationed in MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) member countries including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

At this meeting attended by five heads of missions stationed in MERCOSUR member countries?Ambassador to Brazil, Consul General in S?o Paulo, Ambassador to Argentina, Ambassador to Uruguay, and Ambassador to Paraguay?as well as relevant officials from headquarters, discussions were held on the current status and response to the spread of COVID-19, plans for bilateral and multilateral diplomacy after COVID-19, and ways to strengthen cooperation with MERCOSUR.

Vice Minister Cho evaluated the efforts made by our diplomatic missions to cooperate with host countries on health and quarantine and to protect overseas nationals amid the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the South American region, and emphasized the need to explore various cooperation measures with MERCOSUR member countries in areas such as quarantine and health after COVID-19.

Furthermore, in light of concerns over economic recession in South America due to the impact of COVID-19, he stressed the need for the heads of missions to pay more attention to supporting compatriots and local businesses, and urged them to actively seek cooperation with host countries in fields such as non-face-to-face industries to create new momentum for economic revitalization in Korea. In particular, he requested efforts to support the smooth economic activities of Korean companies in strategically important regions.

The heads of missions attending the meeting presented on the current status and response to COVID-19 in their host countries, the status of quarantine cooperation with Korea, and promising cooperation fields after COVID-19 such as health and medical care, IT and new industries, biotechnology, and infrastructure. They also exchanged views on trends in MERCOSUR member countries and ways to expedite the conclusion of the Korea-MERCOSUR trade agreement.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs evaluated, "This meeting served as a useful opportunity to review measures to protect our nationals and local businesses in the South American region where the spread of COVID-19 continues, and to explore cooperation measures with MERCOSUR member countries in the new diplomatic environment after COVID-19."

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