1. Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Kweon Ki-hwan met with Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Jagan Chapagain on May 10 in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate in responding to humanitarian crises around the world.

2. Deputy Minister Kweon commended the IFRC's efforts in disaster response and disaster risk reduction in the context of increasing severe weather patterns due to climate change and natural disasters such as earthquakes. He explained that the Korean government is expanding humanitarian assistance under the Global Pivotal State vision, and called for continued cooperation, leveraging the IFRC's expertise and network of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies across 191 countries.

3. Secretary General Chapagain appreciated the Korean government for its leadership and continued support for the IFRC as the government is strengthening its contribution to solving common international challenges. He commended the growing partnership between the Republic of Korea and the IFRC, particularly Korea’s contribution to the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), and collaboration in support of conflict and fragile states and in emergency disaster response.

4. Building on the Trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IFRC and the Korean Red Cross, which was revised in September last year, the two sides agreed to further develop cooperation in various areas, including climate resilience, in addition to existing areas of cooperation such as disaster response. They also agreed to work together for the success of the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva in October this year.