"Agenda for Trade Talks Under Discussion...
Venue Yet to Be Decided"
Sangmok Choi, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance, will depart for Washington, D.C., United States, on April 22 to attend the Korea-U.S. 2+2 Economic Dialogue, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting, which will be held from April 23 to 25.
During this period, Deputy Prime Minister Choi is scheduled to hold meetings not only with key finance ministers from countries such as China and Germany, but also with officials including a European Union (EU) Commissioner, the President of the World Bank (WB), and representatives from the international credit rating agency Moody's.
Sangmok Choi, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance. Ministry of Economy and Finance
On April 24, he will participate in the 2+2 Economic Dialogue alongside Deokgeun Ahn, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. The dialogue will be attended by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent, who proposed the meeting, and Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). An official from the Ministry of Economy and Finance explained, "Working-level officials are continuously discussing the agenda for the dialogue." The official added that the venue for the meeting is "still under discussion" and will be announced once it is finalized.
On April 23 and 24, Deputy Prime Minister Choi will also attend the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting of this year. This meeting is held in conjunction with the IMF and WB Spring Meetings and will feature three sessions: global economic and financial issues, reform of multilateral development banks (MDBs) and the international financial system, and development and growth constraints in Africa. In particular, Korea is serving as chair of the working group on the international financial system.
On April 25, he is scheduled to attend the IMFC meeting as Korea's representative to the IMF Executive Board. The IMFC is an advisory body to the IMF Board of Governors, composed of representatives from 25 member countries, and convenes every April and October. Korea and Australia alternate as IMF Executive Directors for two-year terms, with Korea holding the position since November last year.
During his visit to the United States, Deputy Prime Minister Choi plans to use the opportunity of attending international meetings to exchange views on recent global economic issues and discuss cooperation measures with finance ministers from major countries such as China and Germany, as well as with EU Commissioners.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance stated, "Deputy Prime Minister Choi will also meet with Marie Diron, Global Head of Sovereign Ratings at Moody's, to explain Korea's economic situation and policy direction," adding, "We will make every effort to ensure that Korea's strong external creditworthiness is maintained."
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