1. On July 22, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with Foreign Minister Beatrice Atallah of Madagascar, who was on a visit to the Republic of Korea from July 20 to 23. In their meeting, the two top diplomats engaged in an extensive exchange of views on the ROK-Madagascar relations; ways to step up substantive cooperation in economy and other sectors as well on the international stage; and the North Korean nuclear issue.

2. The two Ministers, calling Minister Atallah’s first visit to the ROK and the opening of the ROK Embassy in Madagascar on July 5 as opportunities to further consolidate the bilateral relations, agreed to continue cooperation in a bid to enhance the bilateral partnership in a mutually beneficial manner.

° Minister Atallah, expressing pleasure over the opportunity to witness a developed ROK during the visit, voiced high hopes to boost economic cooperation with the ROK, learn from the ROK’s development experiences, and draw Korean companies’ investment in Madagascar.

° The two Ministers, both recognizing the need to lay the groundwork for the lately increasing bilateral investment and trade, agreed to expedite the conclusion of the agreements for the avoidance of double taxation and for investment promotion and protection.

3. The two Ministers agreed to continue cooperation on the international stage, including with regard to the ROK’s plan to attend the Summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), which will take place in Madagascar on November 26 and 27.

4. The two top diplomats, strongly condemning North Korea’s nuclear test, shared the view that North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations pose a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

° The two sides agreed to work closely together for a thorough implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2270.

5. The visit of Minister Atallah to the ROK marked the first of its kind by a high-level official of Madagascar since the opening of the ROK Embassy in the country in early July. It is seen to have served as a significant opportunity to step up substantive cooperation in such promising areas as infrastructure, construction and resources, as well as to support bids of Korean companies to expand their presence in Madagascar.


* unofficial translation