Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun discussed Thursday efforts to advance bilateral relations with Belgium during his first talks with his counterpart of the European country, including increasing high-level exchanges and practical cooperation. The talks between Cho and Maxime Prevot, Belgium’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, European affairs and development cooperation, marked the first visit to Seoul by Belgium’s top diplomat in 14 years, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Prevot highlighted the special bond forged between the two countries when 3,500 Belgian troops fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. He noted that bilateral cooperation has since expanded across various fields and voiced hope that his visit would help reinvigorate high-level exchanges and broaden the scope of cooperation to such areas as economic security and defense.
Cho briefed his counterpart on Seoul’s efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and called for Belgium’s support and cooperation in that regard. The two ministers also exchanged views on European and international affairs, and agreed to continue working together to promote global peace and stability, the ministry said.