A meeting of a bilateral consular council with Russia in Moscow on May 21 sees officials from both countries discussing the safe residence and convenience of Korean and Russian expats in each other's country. (Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By Kim Seon Ah

The country's first meeting of a bilateral consular council with Russia in seven years has covered cooperation to ensure the safety and convenience of both sides' nationals living in each other's country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on May 21 said Yoon Chusok, director-general of the ministry's Consular Affairs and Safety Bureau, and Alexey Klimov, head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular department, held the council's 18th meeting that day in Moscow. They discussed pending issues like raising convenience for Koreans entering, leaving and living in Russia and protecting them.

Director-general Yoon asked for Russia's keen interest and cooperation for the safe and convenient stay for Koreans in Russia. Both sides also agreed to closer consular cooperation for the safety and convenience of their expats in each other's country.

They stressed the importance of protection of their nationals and boosting convenience for them in each other's country through joint consular efforts, as well as calling the meeting a useful opportunity to discuss in depth raising bilateral consular cooperation.

Before the meeting, Director-general Yoon paid a courtesy call on Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asia-Pacific Andrey Rudenko to discuss consular cooperation.

sofiakim218@korea.kr