German Foreign Minister Meets Kang Kyung-wha: "Welcome South Korea's G7 Participation"... Russia Says 'NO'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The German Foreign Minister, who met with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha in Berlin after six months, expressed a welcoming stance on South Korea's participation in the Group of Seven (G7) summit. However, he emphasized that resolving the Crimean Peninsula and the conflict in eastern Ukraine should be prioritized regarding Russia.

Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister, made these remarks during a press conference following the '2nd Korea-Germany Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue' with Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who visited Berlin on the 10th (local time). This is the first time Germany has directly expressed support for South Korea's participation in the G7 summit, which was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Minister Kang chose Germany as her first destination to resume face-to-face diplomacy, which had been suspended due to the spread of COVID-19.

Minister Maas stated, "If the G7 summit is held this fall, we welcome South Korea's attendance," adding, "South Korea is an internationally important country and a close partner sharing values with Germany, so we are especially pleased." He further noted that in-depth discussions should be held regarding the expansion of the G7 and the G20 system, and that the current structure of the United Nations (UN) Security Council should be reviewed to reflect reality.

In response, Minister Kang welcomed the U.S. invitation and expressed her active participation. She said, "South Korea has set an example in responding to COVID-19 and has made significant contributions to the international community," adding, "Regarding the expansion of the G7, as Minister Maas mentioned, it is a matter that should be discussed and progressed within the framework of international discussions."

On the other hand, Minister Maas expressed a negative stance toward Russia. He said, "Overall, we need to consider which countries participate, but Russia, which was part of the G8, will not be readmitted," adding, "In Russia's case, the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine must be resolved first."

Both ministers also voiced a shared commitment to strengthening multilateralism. This is interpreted as a mutual concern over the growing 'nationalism first' trend following COVID-19. Minister Maas emphasized the need to maintain a fair multilateral trade system and build a sustainable economic structure for economic recovery after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). In response, Minister Kang referred to the European Union's (EU) announcement of the 'European Green Deal' and proposed exploring cooperation measures with South Korea's ongoing 'Green New Deal.'

They also agreed on the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue. Minister Kang expressed gratitude for Germany's unwavering support for the South Korean government's efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. Minister Maas evaluated efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and stressed the importance of peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue. Minister Kang praised Germany for leading multilateral solidarity and leadership, emphasizing, "The two countries should maintain close communication not only on COVID-19 response but also on various global issues such as climate change, disarmament, and non-proliferation."

Additionally, during the strategic dialogue, Minister Kang discussed measures to facilitate the movement of personnel amid the recent COVID-19 pandemic and requested Germany's support for Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Negotiator for Trade, who is a candidate for the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

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