On June 1, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan held bilateral meetings with Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and Don Pomb Polye, his counterparts from Fiji and Papua New Guinea who had come to Korea for the 1st Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
In the Korea-Fiji Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Minister Kim extended appreciation to the Fijian government for its support for Korea's bid to host the COP18 (the 18th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) slated for 2012. The two Ministers exchanged views on bilateral issues, including ways to expand development cooperation, including the invitation of Fijians to training programs in Korea and dispatch of Korean experts to Fiji; resource cooperation, such as on the exploration of submarine hydrothermal deposits in Fiji's exclusive economic zone; and tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Following the meeting with his Fijian counterpart, Minister Kim met bilaterally with his counterpart from Papua New Guinea. In the meeting, he asked for the Papua New Guinean government's strong cooperation in allowing a larger number of Korean companies to participate in its liquefied natural gas development project; concluding an agreement on investment guarantee and another on aviation cooperation; and helping distant-water fishing vessels operate stably. The two Ministers agreed to make further efforts to expand trade and investment in energy, resources and fisheries. Minister Kim expressed gratitude for Papua New Guinea's support for Korea's bid to host the COP18. Meanwhile, Minister Polye highly appreciated the Korean government's efforts and leadership in strengthening the ties between Korea and the Pacific Island countries as can be seen by its hosting of the 1st Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
Source: MOFAT
