1. The first-ever Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the G-20 process, which, as such, attracted keen attention, was successfully held in Los Cabos, Mexico, on February 19-20.

° The Meeting brought together the Foreign Ministers of a total of 18 countries, including the US, Australia, Germany, Turkey, South Africa and other G-20 member states, as well as Spain, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Norway and Singapore, non-G-20 countries especially invited by Mexico, this year’s host of the G-20 Summit. The Republic of Korea was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Min Dong-seok on behalf of Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan.

2. The Ministers highlighted the need for the G-20 to exercise global leadership to combat climate change and break the current deadlock in the multilateral regimes, such as the Doha Development Agenda; as well as to support international organizations so that they can function effectively. Furthermore, they exchanged views on ways to improve the global governance in the fields of trade, climate change, security and development; and concurred that the improved global governance should reflect new global politico-economic factors, including the rise of emerging economies and development of information technology.

3. Vice Minister Min stressed that the G-20 should reach a political consensus and provide leadership needed to resolve outstanding global issues. He spoke about the ROK’s green growth policies and activities by its Global Green Growth Institute related with sustainable development, one of the key challenges to be addressed at the G-20 Summit in Mexico this year, and requested international interest and support.

4. The G-20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, an informal one designed for candid exchange of views, did not produce a formal concluding document. Nevertheless, it carried great significance in that: it reaffirmed the importance of the G-20 as a consultative mechanism for addressing complex global issues emerging in the 21st century; and explored the potential of the G-20, launched in 2008 to respond to the financial crisis, to outgrow its role as a forum on largely economic and financial issues to one that discusses a wider range of issues, including sustainable development, human resource development and security.

                                      Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation