1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun met with Ambassador of New Zealand to Korea Philip Turner on the morning of March 4, and had a broad exchange of views on Korea-New Zealand relations and regional situations.

2. The two sides noted with appreciation that Korea and New Zealand have expanded and deepened their cooperative relations in a range of areas despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed to further advance bilateral relations, including by facilitating people-to-people exchanges at various levels.

o Vice Minister Choi expressed hope that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries would be normalized, while taking necessary measures for disease prevention and control.

3. The two sides agreed that the two countries, as representative like-minded countries in the region that share basic values including democracy and market economy, will continue to communicate and collaborate more closely on diverse global issues and regional situations.

o The two sides also agreed to continue to explore ways of cooperation in energy and climate change, as both countries aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.