By Kim Seon Ah

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo on Feb. 11 hosted the inaugural Korea-Netherlands 2+2 High Level Dialogue on Foreign Affairs and Industry with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aukje de Vries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs compound in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

Both sides agreed to jointly respond to the global crisis in economic security.

This marked the first high-level talks between the foreign and trade ministers of the two countries since Seoul and Amsterdam in December 2023 agreed to launch the meeting during a state visit to the Netherlands by then President Yoon Suk Yeol.

As strategic partners, the two countries covered diplomatic, economic and industrial issues from a systematic and integrated perspective amid the rapidly changing global environment characterized by the restructuring of supply chains and intensifying technological competition.

The ministers shared their views on the changing geopolitical environment and the rising trend of national self-interest. They later discussed raising cooperation in strategic sectors like economic security, artificial intelligence, cyber and emerging technologies, semiconductors and core raw materials.

Both sides adopted a joint statement on the meeting's results and pledged to keep reinforcing strategic cooperation to jointly respond to changes in the global environment for economic security.

sofiakim218@korea.kr