1. On October 24, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se hosted a reception for high-level delegations from foreign countries to the third Senior-Level Meeting of the Global Consular Forum (GCF III).

° The reception brought together some 90 people, including delegations from 30-odd countries and stakeholders of non-governmental organizations.

2. In his remarks, Minister Yun noted that as it is difficult for any one particular country to resolve all its consular issues, including those involving the protection of their nationals in foreign countries, the GCF is an original approach for seeking concrete solutions to such issues. He voiced hope that GCF III, which will be held in the Republic of Korea for the first time in Asia after the first two rounds in the UK and Mexico, will produce concrete results.

* unofficial translation