Minister Kang Kyung-wha Meets UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care... Discusses Cooperation Measures for COVID-19 Response

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 26th (local time), Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha visited the United Kingdom and met with Matt Hancock, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, sharing the Korean government's recent response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and discussing bilateral cooperation measures to respond to the global spread of COVID-19.

During the meeting, Minister Kang emphasized that the Korean government recently raised the domestic infectious disease crisis alert to the highest level, "serious," due to a rapid increase in confirmed cases domestically, mobilizing all available resources to significantly strengthen a whole-of-government and transparent response system. She urged that both governments closely share information related to COVID-19 response and continue consultations.

In response, Secretary Hancock praised the Korean government's all-out efforts against COVID-19, expressing confidence that Korea, having an excellent response system, will successfully overcome the current COVID-19 situation. He also expressed concern about the spread of COVID-19 across the UK and Europe and expressed hope to continue cooperation with the Korean government, which has a well-established advanced medical and quarantine system.

Minister Kang requested Nigel Adams, Minister of State for Asia at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, who attended the meeting, to ensure high-level attendance and active participation from the UK for the successful hosting of the P4G Summit for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030, a stepping stone event for the COP26 Climate Change Conference scheduled to be held in Glasgow, UK, this November.

Minister Adams, while evaluating Korea's efforts to address climate change, expressed gratitude for the invitation to the P4G Summit and said he would consider it favorably. He also stated his expectation that economic and trade cooperation between the two countries will continue to develop through the Korea-UK Free Trade Agreement following Brexit (the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, Brexit).