1. Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Jae-shin will hold the 2nd ROK-Laos High-level Consultation with Lao Vice Foreign Minister Bounkeut Sangsomsak in Seoul on December 16. The meeting will deal with a wide range of bilateral issues, including ways to bolster cooperation in political affairs, development, culture and education, and boost trade and investment; and ways for the two countries to work more closely together on regional and global issues.

2. The Consultation is expected to contribute to further solidifying the friendship and substantive cooperation with Laos, the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Coordinator for 2009-2012 and host country of the 9th ASEM Summit slated for 2012.

                              Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation