Media release
16 December, 2009
Visit to The Republic of Korea
Yesterday and today I conducted my second visit to the Republic of Korea as Foreign Minister.
Today I held an Australia-Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers’ meeting with my counterpart, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, His Excellency Mr Yu Myung-hwan.
The Minister and I reviewed progress under the Action Plan for Australia-Korea Global and Security Cooperation and looked at ways that we can further strengthen this cooperation in the future.
Since its commencement in March 2009, the Action Plan has delivered important outcomes, including closer cooperation in law enforcement, non-proliferation and defence.
Mr Yu and I have agreed on a new revised Action Plan, which will be considered by leaders early in 2010.
We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Development Cooperation.
The Memorandum reflects the depth of the Australia-Korea relationship and commits our two countries to better cooperation on international development assistance efforts.
Mr Yu and I discussed common strategic interests, including stability on the Korean peninsula and its denuclearisation, the further development of regional architecture, and Korea’s hosting of the G20 in 2010.
I underlined the economic importance of concluding a Free Trade Agreement between Australia and Korea.
I also held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister His Excellency Dr Chung Un-chan. In my meetings with His Excellency Kim Tae-young, Minister for Defence, and His Excellency Dr Hyun In-taek, Minister for Unification, I reconfirmed Australia’s support of the Korean Government’s efforts to peacefully resolve Korean Peninsula issues.
This afternoon I visited the War Memorial of Korea where I laid a wreath at the Australian memorial.
Yesterday I opened the new chancery of the Australian Embassy in Seoul.
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