Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Repub : First Vice Foreign Minister Hosts a Dinner for the Mayor of th...

1. On November 28, First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam hosted a dinner for Mayor Edwin Lee of the US city of San Francisco, who was on a visit to the Republic of Korea for the Foreign Ministry's invitation program for members of state governments and legislatures of the US. Over the dinner, they exchanged views on ways for the ROK and San Francisco to work more closely with each other, among others.

2. Vice Minister Lim noted that San Francisco, the first US city visited by the first Korean diplomatic delegation to the US, the 'Bobingsa,' in 1883, carries great historical significance in terms of the ROK-US relations. Taking note of the ongoing robust trade and people-to-people exchanges between the ROK and San Francisco, the Vice Minister voiced hope for closer cooperation.

° He extended appreciation to the San Francisco government for its active assistance with the efforts to handle the aftermath of the Asiana Airlines crash in 2013 and asked it to pay continued attention and render support to the Korean community in the city.

° The Vice Minister also expressed hope for further advances in the ROK-US relations during the term of the incoming US administration. In addition, he underscored the significance of San Francisco as home to leading universities in terms of the ROK government's public diplomacy toward the US.

3. Mayor Lee, extending appreciation to the ROK government for the invitation, stated that active assistance will be rendered to the Korean community in San Francisco to ensure its safety and to protect its rights and interests. He added that, recognizing the importance of the ROK-US alliance himself, active efforts will be made to boost people-to-people exchanges and to advance the relations between the two countries.

* unofficial translation