Beld, 28 August 2023 (MIA) - Within the frameworks of the Bled Strategic Forum on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani met Monday with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Park Jin. This represents the first meeting of the foreign ministers since the two countries established diplomatic relations, said the Government in a press release.

After the meeting, Osmani said that joint readiness to boost trade exchange and connect the business communities of the two countries was voiced at the meeting.

According to MIA's reporter in Bled, the talks focused on opportunities for the promotion of cooperation between the two countries, following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2019, with a special emphasis on economic relations and business links.

“Economic cooperation remains a top focus of our shared interest. Great opportunities for boosting trade and business networking are opening up ahead of us. We are investing significant efforts in our economic diplomacy, and we are focused on creating favorable conditions for foreign investors,” said Osmani, underlining that Korean investors will have a trustworthy and transparent partner in the Government of North Macedonia when it comes to the realization of their potential future projects.

Osmani and Park also spoke about current security challenges following the Russian military aggression on Ukraine, while also welcoming the cooperation between NATO and the Asian partners, where the Republic of Korea plays a significant role. The two ministers also exchanged opinions over the foreign policy priorities of both countries, and over current regional and international issues.

Foreign Minister Osmani will participate in the Bled Strategic Forum on Monday, and will address the panel titled "The Western Balkans: Everything Changes, but Everything Remains the Same?" on the second day of the Forum on Tuesday.

The Foreign Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the French Secretary of State for European, Affairs Laurence Boone, the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Tiago Antunes, the United Kingdom's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Lord Stuart Peach, French Council of State member and former Europe advisor to the French President Emmanuel Macron, Alexandre Adam, as well as with the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Photo: MFA