1. The Foreign Ministry will host a symposium on building a gas trading hub in Northeast Asia at Hotel Shilla, Seoul, on March 5. The forthcoming symposium will cover ways to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub to curtail gas premiums in Northeast Asia.

2. Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Ahn Chong-ghee of the Foreign Ministry will deliver welcoming remarks at the symposium, which will bring together some 200 people, including eight presenters as well as those from energy-related organizations, companies and academias from home and abroad. The participants will share information on the progress in building a gas trading hub in Northeast Asia and discuss ways to work together in that regard.

3. The symposium will take place as part of efforts to pursue the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative of the government of the Republic of Korea, which seeks to build trust through dialogue and cooperation on softer issues and expand the scope of cooperation. As such, it is expected to help vitalize discussions on pending energy issues in Northeast Asia and to serve as a useful forum for dialogue to explore ways for countries in the region to work together in this regard.

                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation