1. The third ROK-Guatemala High-level Policy Consultation will take place in Guatemala City on May 14, with First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yong and his Guatemalan counterpart Carlos Martinez leading their respective delegations.

2. In the consultation, the two sides will note with appreciation the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. They will also engage in a broad exchange of views on a range of issues, including economy, trade, development cooperation, regional situations, cooperation on the global stage, and other issues of mutual concern.

3. Guatemala, the gateway to the Central American region, is not only a bridgehead for the ROK’s entry into the region, but also the ROK’s cooperation partner, where some 5,000 Koreans and about 100 Korean companies are contributing to the country’s economic and social development. In the consultation, Vice Minister Cho will discuss a variety of bilateral issues and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

4. Vice Minister Cho will especially request the Guatemalan government’s special interest and support regarding Korean companies’ participation in infrastructure-building projects, protection of Korean residents and companies, and drafting of a new law that will replace the Maquila Law, due to expire this year. Vice Minister Cho will also ask for the Guatemalan government’s continued support for the ROK government’s efforts to lay the foundation for peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula.

5. Prior to the consultation, Vice Minister Cho will pay a courtesy call on Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Morales and exchange views on the way forward for bilateral relations.

6. The upcoming consultation comes five years after the second consultation took place in Guatemala City in 2010. It is expected to serve as an opportunity to facilitate high-level exchanges between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, further consolidate the long-standing friendly relations, and enhance substantive cooperation in a range of areas.


*unofficial translation