(1) Korea-Iran High-Level Policy Consultation
The High-Level Policy Consultation between the Republic of Korea, headed by the ROK Foreign Ministry's Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-soo and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Oceania Affairs Ibrahim Rahimpour, was held in Seoul on May 26, 2014. The consultation, which is a follow-up meeting to the Policy Consultation held in Tehran during Deputy Minister Lee's visit to Iran in November 2013, was held as an effort to further promote interaction between high-level officials of the two sides. During the Consultation, the two sides discussed pending bilateral issues as well as developments concerning the Iranian nuclear issue and the situation in the Middle East. The two sides also agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the international arena including the field of development. The two sides agreed to hold the next consultation in Tehran.
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(2) Korea-South Africa Policy Consultative Forum
On October 17, the eighth meeting of the Korea-South Africa Policy Consultative Forum took place in Seoul. It was co-chaired by Deputy Minister Lee Kyung-soo, representing the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo, representing the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The two sides had extensive discussions concerning the expansion of bilateral relations and economic cooperation, knowledge sharing in rural development, cooperation on the international and regional stages, and cooperation on areas of mutual interest such as environment, ICT, and maritime affairs. South Africa expressed interest in Korea's nuclear energy development and introduced in details their ocean economy development plan, which had just been announced. The first Korea-South Africa Policy Consultative Forum took place in 1997, and in 2011 the forums became an annual event. By holding these forums on an annual basis, Korea and South Africa are expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
(3) Korea-Senegal Policy Consultation
Deputy Minister Lee Kyung-soo and Secretary-General Amadou Kebe held the second ROK-Senegal Policy Consultations in Seoul on August 28. The two sides discussed key bilateral issues in depth, including ways to boost high-level exchanges, economic cooperation, development cooperation, and cooperation on the international and regional stages. In addition, Korea explored ways to strengthen cooperation on the international stage with Senegal, the chair country of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Also, the two sides reviewed the current situation regarding the Ebola outbreak in Africa and discussed ways to work together to stop its spread.
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The ROK-Senegal Policy Consultations, which first took place in 2010 and was upgraded to a deputy minister's level (from a director-level meeting) after four years, is an opportunity for both countries to hold extensive discussions on a variety of issues and to reaffirm commitment to stronger cooperation.
(4) Korea-League of Arab States Policy Consultation
The Foreign Ministry's Director-General of the African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau Kwon Hee-seog engaged in the first Korea-League of Arab States (LAS) Policy Consultation with Assistant Secretary-General of the LAS Fadel M. Jawad Khadum on February 20, 2014. During the Policy Consultation, which was held as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ROK and LAS signed in September 2013 on the occasion of the UN General Assembly, the two sides discussed measures to foster cooperation between the ROK and the League of Arab States; and engaged in an exchange of views on the situations in the Middle East, in Northeast Asia, and on the Korean Peninsula.
(5) Korea-Sudan Policy Consultation
The fourth meeting of the Korea-Sudan Policy Consultations, headed by Director-General Kwon Hee-seog of MOFA's African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau, and Abdelhaleem, Director General for Bilateral Relations of Sudan's foreign ministry, was held in Kartoum, Sudan on March 6. The two sides exchanged views on how best to strengthen practical cooperation concerning politics, the economy, development and culture. To achieve this, they agreed on the need for more frequent exchanges of visits by high-level officials, and legal infrastructure such as the Bilateral Investment Agreement and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. This meeting, which had been on hiatus for years since the third Korea-Sudan Policy
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Consultations in 2003, paved the way for stronger bilateral relations between the two countries.
(6) Korea-Iran Policy Consultation
On March 17, 2014, the Foreign Ministry's Director-General of the African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau of MOFA Kwon Hee-seog held the First Korea-Iran Director-General level Policy Consultation with Abdolrassoul Mohajer, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Director-General for East Asia and Pacific Affairs. The two sides exchanged views on a broad range of issues including Korea-Iran bilateral relations, the international community's sanctions on Iran, exchange program of junior diplomats, and the exchange of high-level officials.
(7) Korea-Egypt Policy Consultation Meeting
On March 19, 2014, the Foreign Ministry's Director-General of the African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau Kwon Hee-seog met with Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Countries and Pacific Ocean Island Affairs, Ahmed Ismail Abdel Moeti. The two sides exchanged views on the bilateral relations between Korea and Egypt and discussed situations in the Middle East and Northeast Asia. Furthermore, Director-General Kwon expressed his appreciation for Egypt's active support in managing the terrorist bombing attack in Taba in February 2014, and in particular, for Egypt's active assistance in managing the situation and providing necessary aid and assistance for the victims.
(8)Korea-Burkina Faso Policy Consultation
The first policy consultations between the Republic of Korea and Burkina Faso took place in Seoul on June 18, with Director-General Kwon Hee-seog of MOFA's African
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and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau, and Director-General for Bilateral Relations Pascal Batjobo of Burkina Faso's foreign ministry leading their respective delegations.
The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and substantive ways to work together on trade, development cooperation, and culture as well as cooperation on the international stage. They also agreed that there were untapped opportunities for mutual economic cooperation. The policy consultations between Korea and Burkina Faso served as an opportunity to improve ties, and the two countries agreed to make ongoing efforts to advance relationship between the two countries.
(9) Second Korea-Bahrain Policy Dialogue
Kwon Hee-seog, Director-General of the African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea, and Abdulla Abullatif Abdulla, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kingdom of Bahrain, led the second Korea-Bahrain Policy Dialogue on June, 24, 2014, in Seoul. The two sides were in agreement regarding the need for ongoing reciprocal visits by high-level officials and discussed bilateral cooperation in the form of cultural exchanges, cooperation on education, efforts to vitalize the Joint Committee and Policy Dialogue, and the establishment of a Bahraini Embassy in Korea.
(10) Korea-Tanzania Policy Consultation
The second Korea-Tanzania Policy Consultations, headed by Director-General Kwon Hee-seog of MOFA's African and Middle Eastern Affairs Bureau, and Mbelwa Brighton Kairuki, Director of the Department of Asia and Australia of Tanzania's foreign ministry, took place in Seoul on August 11. They exchanged views on areas of mutual interest and ways to expand substantive cooperation in various fields;
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these included high-level personnel exchanges, cooperation in the international arena, establishment of a Tanzanian Embassy in Korea, trade and investment, and development.