Korea, EU agree to strengthen cooperation, expand bilateral exchanges

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Korea, EU agree to strengthen cooperation, expand bilateral exchanges

Published: 15 Feb. 2023, 09:46 Updated: 15 Feb. 2023, 10:03

Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, right, and European External Action Service Secretary-General Stefano Sannino pose for a photo during their meeting in Washington on Tuesday. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

Korea and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday agreed to continue expanding and developing their strategic partnership, the Korean foreign ministry said.

The agreement came in a meeting between First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong and European External Action Service Secretary-General Stefano Sannino.

"Vice Minister Cho and Secretary-General Sannino agreed to further expand high-level exchanges to continue strengthening and developing the strategic partnership, established 2010, between Korea and the EU," the ministry said of the meeting held in Washington.

Cho arrived at Washington on Sunday for bilateral and trilateral talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Wendy Sherman and Takeo Mori.

"The two sides agreed to actively promote cooperation between Korea and the EU in the Indo-Pacific by linking their respective Indo-Pacific strategies, highlighting the importance of freedom, peace and prosperity in the region," the foreign ministry said in a press release.

Cho expressed gratitude for the EU's consistent support for Korea's North Korea policy, according to the ministry.

"In addition, Vice Minister Cho asked for the EU's continued support and role in addressing issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, including North Korean human rights issues," it said.

Yonhap