1.      Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan, Mustafa Osman Ismail, is scheduled to pay an 
official visit to the Republic of Korea from September 9 to 13, 2004, at the invitation by the Minister of Foreign 
Affairs and Trade, Ban Ki-moon.

2.      During his visit, Minister Ismail plans to pay a courtesy call on President Roh Moo-hyun, and hold the 
ROK-Sudan Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Minister Ban, to exchange views on a wide range of issues 
including ways to further promote the friendly and cooperative ties between the ROK and Sudan and the 
recent situation in the two countries.  The two ministers will also sign the ROK-Sudan Agreement for the 
Avoidance of Double Taxation.

3.      Minister Ismail's visit is expected to provide an opportunity to promote  the expansion of Korean 
companies' activities in Sudan and their participation in the energy development of Sudan, and to enhance 
Sudan's understanding of the ROK's troop dispatch to Iraq.

4.      Sudan is the 10th largest trade partner of the ROK in Africa; and the ROK is Sudan's 7th largest trade 
partner.

                                                                        Spokesperson of MOFAT

* unofficial translation