1. The third Republic of Korea-Bahrain policy consultation will take place at the ROK Foreign Ministry on January 20, with Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs Kwon Hee-seog of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Ambassador Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain leading their respective delegations.

2. In the forthcoming policy consultation, the two sides will review the progress in the ROK-Bahrain cooperation. They will also engage in an extensive exchange of views on situations in diverse regions of the world and ways to promote substantive bilateral cooperation in political affairs, economy, trade and culture as well as on the international stage.

◦ With the year 2016 marking the 40th anniversary of the ROK-Bahrain diplomatic relations, the two sides will discuss in depth ways to advance the bilateral ties, including boosting high-level exchanges, holding the first meeting of their joint cooperative committee (pursuant to the bilateral memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a joint cooperative committee concluded in September 2015), conducting youth exchange programs, and seeking closer economic cooperation through economic delegations to be dispatched to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

3. Earlier on January 20, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Kim Hong-kyun will meet with Undersecretary Abdulla to discusss ways to promote the ROK-Bahrain relations.

4. The upcoming visit of Undersecretary Abdulla to the ROK and policy consultation are expected to serve as a significant opportunity to reaffirm the friendly and cooperative ties between the ROK and Bahrain, to discuss in depth ways to increase cooperation across the board, including political affairs, economy, culture and education, and thereby to broaden the realm of substantive cooperation between the two countries.


* unofficial translation