South Korea-Russia Foreign Ministers' Call: "Let's Cooperate to Develop the Northeast Asia Epidemic Prevention Cooperation Initiative"

Discussion on Measures to Promote Normal and High-Level Exchanges
Reaffirmation of Commitment to Cooperation for Advancing Peace on the Korean Peninsula

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] On the 12th, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the call, the two ministers agreed to work together to advance practical cooperation between the two countries and to make joint efforts to respond to and overcome COVID-19.

In particular, the two ministers agreed to cooperate in concretely developing the concept of the "Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Mechanism."

This cooperation mechanism was proposed by President Moon Jae-in in his keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September last year, with the intention of regional countries joining forces to address cross-border health crises. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the first meeting to launch the Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Mechanism in December last year in the form of a working-level video conference. At that meeting, five countries?South Korea, the United States, China, Russia, and Mongolia?participated.

Additionally, the two countries reaffirmed that they are key partners for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and Eurasia and agreed to actively promote high-level and summit exchanges this year as well. The two countries engaged in exchanges such as the summit call between President Moon Jae-in and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year, the call between Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in June, and the visit to Russia by former Ambassador to Russia Woo Yoon-geun as a special envoy of President Moon in December.

Furthermore, they reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation for the advancement of the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

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