Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan had a meeting and luncheon with his Spanish counterpart Trinidad Jimenez, who is on a visit to Korea July 13-14, to exchange views on matters of mutual concern, such as the current situation on the Korean peninsula and bilateral issues.
The two Ministers noted with satisfaction remarkable development of Korea-Spain ties in various fields, including politics, economy and culture, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1950, and agreed to continue efforts to promote the friendly and cooperative ties. Minister Kim, in particular, extended appreciation to Spain for its support for Pyeongchang's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, and voiced hope for an increase in cultural exchanges through the Korean Cultural Center in Spain, which was opened this June.
Recognizing the high potential of the Korea-EU FTA to lead to increased trade and investment between Korea and Spain, the two Ministers agreed to induce government-business cooperation to realize such potential. In their discussion on ways to make a joint entry into the Latin American market, such as utilizing Spain's experience in Latin America and Korea's technology, the two sides agreed to bolster cooperation as members of the International Renewable Energy Agency to this end.
While Minister Jimenez took note of the success of the G-20 Seoul Summit last year, Minister Kim suggested that the two countries work together in such areas of mutual interest as development, and new and renewable energy at the G-20 Cannes Summit this year.
On the heels of the meeting, the two Ministers formally signed a social security agreement, which is expected to lead to further exchanges and economic activities.
source: mofat