1. On March 18, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul held his second meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno. L.P. Marsudi since taking office. The Indonesian Foreign Minister was on a visit to Korea to attend the Ministerial Conference of the 3rd Summit for Democracy.

2. Foreign Minister Cho commended Indonesia for its contribution to democracy, noting its status as the world’s third-largest democratic country by population and its efforts in hosting the Bali Democracy Forum since 2008. He also expressed his gratitude for Foreign Minister Retno’s participation in the Ministerial Conference of the Summit for Democracy for two consecutive years. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Retno stressed the shared democratic values between the two nations and suggested that the two countries further strengthen regional and global cooperation as Special Strategic Partners.

3. The Foreign Ministers took note of the outcomes of the 2nd Vice Ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue between Korea and Indonesia on  March 13 and agreed to continue close collaboration to ensure smooth progress and successful completion of the strategic cooperation projects including the joint development program for fighter jets (KF-21/IF-X).

4. Foreign Minister Cho expressed his deep condolences to the Indonesian victims of the fishing vessels capsized on March 9 and March 17, respectively, assuring that the Korean government is making all-out rescue and search efforts with all its available assets.

5.  Foreign Minister Retno mourned the two countries’ victims of the fishing boat accident on March 9 and extended appreciation to the  Korean government for its prompt response and close communication with Indonesia from the outsets of the incidents.