1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who is participating in the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, met with Foreign Minister of the Philippines Albert F. del Rosario on September 26 and held extensive discussions on bilateral issues, including Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III’s state visit to the ROK (October 17-18), protecting peoples of both countries in each other’s country and improving the investment environment in the Philippines.

2. Minister Yun welcomed Philippine President Aquino’s forthcoming visit to the ROK on October 17-18, the first state visit to the ROK by a foreign leader since the inauguration of the Park Geun-hye government. The two Ministers agreed to make full preparations for the visit so that bilateral relations will further deepen and develop.

3. Stressing that there are increasing concerns about the safety of the ROK people in the Philippines, Minister Yun requested the Philippine government’s special attention and cooperation to protect the ROK people in the Philippines. Minister Yun also asked for the Philippine side’s cooperation in establishing a consular agency of the ROK in Cebu in 2014. Foreign Minister Del Rosario promised the Philippine government’s support and offered to closely cooperate to protect peoples of both countries and promote people-to-people exchanges.

4. In addition, Minister Yun stated that it is highly noticeable that the Philippines, which is getting attention as one of emerging VIP nations (Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines), is continuing sound growth, recording a higher-than-expected economic growth rate recently (7.5% in the second quarter of the year). The Minister requested the Philippine government’s attention to the ROK companies and efforts to improve the investment environment so that more ROK companies can invest in the Philippines.

o In response, Foreign Minister Del Rosario said that the Philippine’s rapid economic growth is receiving worldwide attention and that the country will continue to work for more ROK and other foreign companies to invest in the Philippines. 


                   Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation