President Moon: "Argentina, a Traditionally Friendly Nation, Supports COVID-19 Prevention Supplies"

40-Minute Call at Argentina President's Request... POSCO Also Asked to Support 'Lithium Extraction Demo Plant' Project

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the 3rd, President Moon Jae-in expressed his intention to support quarantine supplies for 'COVID-19' during a phone call with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez.

Yoon Jae-kwan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Blue House, said, "President Moon had a 40-minute phone call starting at 9 a.m. at the request of Argentine President Alberto Fernandez," adding, "President Moon expressed condolences over the confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Argentina and wished for a swift recovery."

President Moon expressed gratitude for the Argentine government's exceptional allowance of entry for Korean businesspeople operating locally despite border closure measures. President Moon said, "I ask for the president's continued interest and support for additional entry permissions in the future."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, President Moon emphasized, "Because we have a traditional friendly country with a comprehensive cooperative partnership, we intend to support quarantine supplies for COVID-19 response as circumstances allow, hoping to be of some help in Argentina's overcoming of COVID-19."

Deputy Spokesperson Yoon said, "President Fernandez highly appreciated Korea's rapid and transparent response from the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, setting an example worldwide," adding, "He expressed gratitude for the Korean government's decision to support protective equipment to Argentina on a humanitarian basis while sharing quarantine experiences through video conferences."

Meanwhile, Presidents Moon and Fernandez also discussed issues related to enhancing economic cooperation. President Moon said, "POSCO of our country is doing its best to complete the lithium extraction demo plant (pilot production facility) within the next one to two months."

President Fernandez said the lithium demo plant project is an important project that the Argentine government is very interested in, and promised full support not only for completion but also for subsequent production.

President Moon said, "The Korea-Mercosur Trade Agreement (TA) will be an opportunity to make a breakthrough in economic cooperation between the two countries, and I ask for interest and support so that the negotiations can be concluded early." President Fernandez introduced that there was a recent video call among Mercosur leaders and said he would be interested in concluding an agreement with the Republic of Korea.

In addition, the two leaders exchanged views on the opening of the Argentine agricultural and livestock product market, for which import approval procedures are underway between the two countries, and on expanding investment.

President Moon also asked for President Fernandez's continued interest and support for the safety of Korean businesspeople and Korean residents living locally. In response, President Fernandez said, "The Korean community is well integrated into Argentine society, receiving respect and love, is the best workforce, and lives together like brothers," promising interest and support.

Furthermore, President Moon emphasized that since the COVID-19 crisis is not limited to one country, it is more important than ever to unite with mutual trust and inclusion to enhance solidarity and cooperation in the international community. He said Korea will continue to share its quarantine and treatment experiences, clinical data, and more with Argentina and the international community.

Deputy Spokesperson Yoon said, "President Moon emphasized that, in accordance with the spirit of 'solidarity and cooperation' announced in his invited speech at the World Health Assembly last May, Korea will continue to actively participate in international efforts for vaccine and treatment development, health sector development cooperation, and strengthening infectious disease response capabilities," he added.

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