South Korea-led 'Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Body' Holds First Working-Level Meeting…Minister Kang Kyung-wha Hopes for North Korea's Participation in the Near Future

Participation of Government Officials from Six Countries Including Korea, USA, China, Japan, Russia, and Mongolia
Kang Kyung-wha: "Long-term Regional Cooperation Important for Preparing Against Health Security Risks"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 29th that it held the first practical video conference among regional countries to launch the Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Body.

The Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Body, proposed by President Moon Jae-in during his keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly last September, is a regional cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening joint response capabilities among geographically adjacent countries with active human and material exchanges in the region, to respond to cross-border health security crises such as the emergence of COVID-19 and other new infectious diseases.

This practical video conference was held in a Track 1.5 format, with broad participation from directors-level officials in diplomacy and health from six governments including South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Russia, and Mongolia, as well as working-level staff from embassies in Korea and private experts in health, disease control, and international relations.

Minister Kang Kyung-wha, in her video welcome address, emphasized that "long-term regional cooperation is important not only for the immediate response to COVID-19 but also to prepare for health security risks such as the emergence of other new infectious diseases," and requested constructive exchanges of opinions to expand related cooperation going forward, using this meeting as a starting point.

Minister Kang also expressed hope for North Korea's participation in the near future, adding, "The inclusive cooperation and solidarity spirit that the cooperation body aims for will also contribute to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia."

The participants shared best practices in each country's COVID-19 response and conducted in-depth discussions on regional cooperation measures and policy directions to prepare for cross-border health security crises.

In particular, the participants emphasized the importance of discovering detailed cooperation areas and programs for the continuous development of the Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Body, and agreed to continue consultations to further solidify regional cooperation by expanding cooperating countries and scope, as well as regularizing discussions.

Earlier, on the 28th, as part of promoting the Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Body, a Track 2 webinar was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chaired by Global Health Security Ambassador Lee Jong-gu. The policy recommendations derived from experts at this webinar were circulated at the launch meeting of the cooperation body, helping participants facilitate policy consultations based on scientific knowledge.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "This Track 1.5 practical video conference of the Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Body is evaluated as the first step taken by regional countries to strengthen not only the immediate COVID-19 response but also mid- to long-term disease control and health cooperation," adding, "The process of communicating to expand and deepen the cooperation body will also contribute to accumulating practices of dialogue and cooperation among related countries in the Northeast Asia region in the future."

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