Deputy Minister Choi Jong-geon Meets with Indonesian Ambassador to Korea... Discusses Resuming Face-to-Face Exchanges Between Foreign Ministers

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 4th, Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Umar Hadi, Ambassador of Indonesia to Korea, and exchanged broad opinions on ways to develop bilateral relations.

Vice Minister Choi evaluated the solid cooperation between the two countries' heads of state and foreign ministers in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and expressed hope to continue strengthening cooperation so that the partnership as strategic partners can steadily develop in all fields.

Both sides sought ways to accelerate substantive cooperation in key areas between the two countries, including political affairs, economy, defense, and defense industry, including the resumption of high-level face-to-face exchanges such as the planned visit of Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to Korea within the year.

Meanwhile, both sides expressed satisfaction with the continuous strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries even amid the COVID-19 situation, such as about 1,500 Korean businesspeople visiting Indonesia through the implementation of simplified entry procedures for essential personnel movement, and agreed to strengthen post-COVID-19 economic recovery cooperation including ▲expansion of Korea-Indonesia investment cooperation ▲early implementation of the Korea-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) ▲completion of signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) within the year.

A Foreign Ministry official explained, "This meeting is evaluated as close communication to strengthen strategic cooperation with Indonesia, a key partner of the New Southern Policy, through the first individual meeting with ASEAN ambassadors in Korea following Vice Minister Choi's meeting with the ASEAN ambassador group in Korea on the 15th of last month."

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