1. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan met with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius in Los Cabos, Mexico, on June 19 on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit. In the meeting, the two sides exchanged a wide range of views on ways for their two countries to work together on bilateral, regional and global issues.

2. The two Ministers shared the view that the ROK and France, as friendly countries with long-standing diplomatic relations as well as common universal values, should work closely together to resolve both bilateral and global issues such as climate change; and to maintain the regional stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East.

    ° Minister Kim touched on the need for North Korea to stop provocations and threats and choose the path toward reform and opening; and to take sincere measures to improve the human rights situation of its people. In response, Minister Fabius expressed all-out support for the ROK’s position.

    ° Minister Kim commended the efforts of the French government toward the peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue and the unrest in Syria, and voiced the willingness of the ROK to join international efforts to this end.

    ° Minister Kim proposed that the ROK and France work more closely together to achieve progress in climate change negotiations this year, and requested the cooperation of France in collecting contributions to the Global Climate Fund and evolving the Global Green Growth Institute to an international organization. Meanwhile, Minister Fabius commended the ROK’s green growth policy vision.

3. The first meeting between Minister Kim and Minister Fabius held a month after the latter’s appointment to the post on May 16 served as an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding on matters of bilateral concern, such as North Korea issues. Minister Fabius demonstrated an active attitude toward building a cooperation mechanism with the ROK, as can be seen by his proposal to have telephone conversations whenever consultations on key bilateral and global issues are needed.

                                        Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation