8th Korea-Australia Strategic Dialogue(April 16)

1. Deputy Minister for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chung Byung-won held the eighth Korea-Australia Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Secretary for Strategic Planning and Coordination at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Elly Lawson on the morning of Tuesday, April 16, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discussed ways for cooperation in various fields including Indo-Pacific strategies, defense and relevant industries, the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region, and multilateral cooperation.

2. The two sides noted with appreciation that the two like-minded countries have advanced their "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" through close communication including the bilateral summit meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit of last year, the Foreign Ministers' telephone conversation early this year and other active high-level exchanges.

3. The two sides shared the view that Korea and Australia have a similar perspective on the Indo-Pacific region and willingness to actively cooperate therein. They also agreed to continue close communication and cooperation to ensure synergy between their respective Indo-Pacific strategies.

4. Deputy Minister Chung called Australia Korea's friend that became the second nation to join the Korean War after the United States in support of Korea as well as Korea's partner that shares core values such as democracy. He went on to appreciate the growing Korea-Australia cooperation on defense and relevant industries, citing examples such as a Korean company having won a contract toward the end of last year to take part in Australia's project for next-generation infantry fighting vehicles. Deputy Secretary Lawson expressed her expectation that the aforementioned project will become a symbol of bilateral cooperation on defense and relevant industries as well as her hope for a further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

5. The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation with Pacific Island Countries and ASEAN in the process of implementing their Indo-Pacific strategies, and to strengthen communication in various fields such as cybersecurity, development cooperation, and response to climate change.

6. The two sides also discussed the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region. They shared the view that North Korea's continued provocations, nuclear and missile development, and military cooperation with Russia pose serious threats to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the entire region and world. They agreed to continue enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation in that regard.

7. Finally, the two sides agreed to make efforts to achieve fruitful outcome at the upcoming sixth Korea-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers' 2+2 Meeting by building on the results of this strategic dialogue.