'COVID-19 Response' 7 Countries' Deputy Foreign Ministers Hold 3rd Phone Consultation... Discuss Humanitarian Aid and Maintaining Global Supply Chains

Vice Minister Jo Se-young emphasizes "Continued close cooperation in humanitarian aid and consular affairs"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the morning of the 3rd, Cho Se-young, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, held the third regional deputy foreign ministers' teleconference for 40 minutes with deputy foreign ministers from seven countries including South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, and India.

Participants included Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State; Takeo Akiba, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Frances Adamson, Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Chris Seed, Deputy Secretary of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Senior Deputy Foreign Secretary of India; and Bui Thanh Son, Senior Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam.

The deputy foreign ministers shared each country's COVID-19 response status and discussed measures for humanitarian aid to vulnerable countries amid the global spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), maintaining global supply chains, and mutual cooperation for the return of their nationals.

Vice Minister Cho introduced that the Korean government is providing diagnostic kits and other support to vulnerable countries in urgent need within limits that do not affect domestic supply. He also explained that through close cooperation with many countries, the return of over 4,000 Korean nationals worldwide has been made possible, emphasizing the intention to continue close cooperation in humanitarian aid and consular affairs going forward.

Furthermore, Vice Minister Cho explained that the Korean government has mandated a 14-day quarantine for all incoming travelers in response to the increase in overseas COVID-19 cases, while keeping separate entry procedures open for essential economic exchanges. He expressed hope to jointly establish standards to maintain essential movement even amid the spread of COVID-19.

The deputy ministers attending the meeting agreed to continue close communication and cooperation for COVID-19 response through regular teleconferences in the future.