By UN Journal Kayla Lee

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first South Korea-Indonesia foreign ministers' meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, who is visiting South Korea, and exchanged views on high-level exchanges, practical cooperation, and regional and international situations, including the Korean Peninsula, on August 21.

Minister Cho welcomed Minister Sugiono's visit and expressed hope that Indonesia, as our special strategic partner, would further deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in all areas, taking the launch of the new governments of both countries as an opportunity.

Minister Sugiono expressed his gratitude for Minister Cho's hospitality and emphasized that Indonesia also attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with the Korean new government.

The two ministers agreed to work closely together to implement the shared commitment to develop bilateral relations to the highest level, as confirmed by the leaders of both countries during a telephone conversation (June 23) following the inauguration of the new government.

Minister Cho evaluated that high-level exchanges between the two countries are being carried out very closely, such as the visit of the presidential special envoy to Indonesia (August 11-14) and the visit of Foreign Minister Sugiono to Korea (August 21-22), and said that he looks forward to attending the 5th Korea-Indonesia Foreign Ministers' Joint Committee meeting to be held in Indonesia this year. Minister Sugiono welcomed Minister Cho's visit to Indonesia.

The two ministers agreed to actively cooperate to further increase trade and investment by utilizing the Korea-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

In particular, Minister Cho requested Minister Sugiono to pay special attention and provide support to the 2,300 Korean companies operating in Indonesia, and Minister Sugiono responded that he would actively support the activities of Korean companies.

The two ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in major regional and international multilateral forums such as ASEAN and APEC, and expressed their expectation that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will attend the APEC Summit to be held in Gyeongju in October.

Minister Cho explained the South Korean government's efforts to ease tensions and build peace on the Korean Peninsula and requested Indonesia's close cooperation and support in this regard.

Following the meeting, the two ministers had lunch together and exchanged in-depth opinions on regional and international issues. They agreed to continue cooperation between the two countries for regional and global peace and stability in line with their special strategic partnership.