1. On July 22, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran of Trinidad and Tobago, who is on an official visit to the Republic of Korea from July 21 through 24. In their meeting, the two Ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields. They also exchanged views on the situations in East Asia and the Caribbean.

2. Minister Yun noted with appreciation that the ROK and Trinidad and Tobago have moved their close friendship and cooperation forward since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1985. He voiced his hope that the two countries will enhance their substantive cooperation in various fields, including people-to-people and cultural exchanges and economy as well as on the international stage.

° Minister Yun asked Minister Dookeran to take a keen interest in and support Korean companies’ bids to expand their presence in energy and infrastructure-construction projects pursued by the government of Trinidad and Tobago. In response, Minister Dookeran conveyed his willingness to step up cooperation with the ROK in such fields.

° Minister Dookeran noted that the ROK government’s invitation of various officials of Trinidad and Tobago to the ROK as well as bilateral cooperation in economy and on the international stage has played an important role in strengthening bilateral cooperation. He expressed his hope that the two countries will further enhance their focused partnership mainly in areas of great potential for cooperation. He also invited Minister Yun to visit Trinidad and Tobago at an appropriate time.

3. Minister Yun invited government officials of Trinidad and Tobago to attend the ROK-Caribbean High-level Forum slated for October 22 and Seoul Conference on Cyberspace 2013 on October 17-18. The two countries agreed to work closely at international organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

° Minister Dookeran asked the ROK government to work to have G-20 and other international organizations consider the positions of Trinidad and Tobago and other small island countries.

4. On the heels of the meeting, the two Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a high-level policy consultation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. The two sides agreed to hold in-depth consultations on ways to promote cooperation bilaterally and on the international stage as called for by the MOU.

5. At the welcome luncheon, Minister Yun elaborated on the government policy direction of President Park Geun-hye that emphasizes the happiness of people and creative economy. The two Ministers exchanged extensive views on the situations in East Asia and the Caribbean.

6. The official visit of Minister Dookeran and the ROK-Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Ministers’ meeting are seen to have served as an opportunity to reaffirm the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries and lay groundwork for further expansion of and advances in cooperation. They are also seen to have strengthened the foundation for the ROK’s advance into the Caribbean via Trinidad and Tobago, a leading country in the region.

                           Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation