1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Commonwealth of Dominica’s Foreign Minister Francine Baron on October 22, and exchanged views on ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the areas of economy and development, global affairs, climate change, and e-government.

2. Minister Yun welcomed Minister Baron’s visit to the ROK as the first Foreign Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica to do so in 13 years. Minister Yun noted with appreciation that friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have steadily developed since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1978.

3. Minister Yun expressed deepest consolation regarding the massive damage which Tropical Storm Erika caused to the Commonwealth of Dominica in late August. Minister Baron extended appreciation to the ROK government for providing humanitarian assistance following the Commonwealth of Dominica government’s request for recovery assistance.

4. Minister Yun said that the ROK has held the High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership every year since 2011 in order to increase substantive cooperation with Caribbean countries. He explained that the ROK and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) also agreed to further enhance cooperation in such areas as development, poverty eradication, ICT, health and medical service, and industrial capacity building in the Foreign Ministers’ meeting between the ROK and CELAC's Cuarteto countries. Minister Yun expressed the ROK’s willingness to cooperate with countries in the Caribbean region, including the Commonwealth of Dominica.

5. Minister Baron spoke highly of the ROK’s experience of economic development, and expressed hope to share the ROK’s experience. Minister Yun expressed hope that the two countries will increase their cooperation in the areas of the Saemaul Undong Project (new community movement), e-government, and infrastructure building.

6. Minister Baron hoped that in the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), scheduled to take place in Paris in early December, participants will agree on a more effective system to provide support and assistance for the capacity building which small island countries need. She also expected that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) will play a big role in small island countries’ efforts in responding to climate change.

7. Minister Yun said that he is well aware of the difficulties faced by small island countries, including the Commonwealth of Dominica, due to climate change, and expressed hope that in the COP21, participants will develop a new climate regime that can provide support for vulnerable countries effectively.

8. The latest ROK-Commonwealth of Dominica Foreign Ministers’ meeting served as an opportunity to reaffirm the friendly relations between the two countries and their willingness to pursue mutually-beneficial cooperation through discussions on issues of mutual concern.


*unofficial translation