Prime Minister Chung Requests Support for WTO Director-General Election from Sri Lanka and Guatemala

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun held a phone call with Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, on the 20th, requesting support for Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Trade Negotiator, who is running for the Director-General election of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has embarked on diplomatic activities to support Yoo Myung-hee, the Chief Trade Negotiator, who is running for the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

On the 20th, Prime Minister Chung held consecutive phone calls with Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and C?sar Guillermo Castillo Reyes, Vice President of Guatemala, the Prime Minister's office announced.

During the calls, Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "In the unprecedented crisis caused by protectionism and COVID-19, the role of the WTO as a defender of the multilateral trading system is more important than ever," and strongly requested support for Chief Negotiator Yoo, who possesses both trade expertise and political leadership.

In response, Prime Minister Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka reportedly stated, "Candidate Yoo, a trade expert, has the necessary capabilities to serve as the next Director-General of the WTO," according to the Prime Minister's office.

Vice President Castillo of Guatemala also evaluated Candidate Yoo as "the best-prepared candidate with excellent qualities and work performance capabilities" and said, "I will cooperate to expand support within the Latin American region."

Prime Minister Chung exchanged views with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on COVID-19 prevention cooperation, expansion of economic exchanges, and activation of high-level exchanges.

With the Guatemalan Vice President, he discussed current issues such as health and infrastructure cooperation, and the activation of cultural exchanges on the occasion of Guatemala's 200th anniversary of independence (2021) and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (2022).

Meanwhile, on the 19th, Prime Minister Chung held a phone call with Iv?n Duque M?rquez, President of Colombia, to request support for Chief Negotiator Yoo's WTO Director-General election. Prime Minister Chung will continue efforts to ensure Candidate Yoo's election as WTO Director-General.

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