At the inauguration of the Fifth Special Korea-Central America Round Table, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos A. Hoyos, highlighted, alongside the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Park Yoonjoo, that “international cooperation, when it is coherent, strategic, and guided by mutual trust, multiplies opportunities and transforms realities.”The meeting took place within the framework of the Central American Integration System (SICA), of which Panama holds the pro tempore presidency.Before envoys from Korea and Central America, the acting Foreign Minister Hoyos stated that relations between the two regions have been consolidated as a mechanism for strategic dialogue to deepen cooperation.This is the first time these round tables, initiated in 2021, have met outside of Korea, which, in the words of the acting Foreign Minister Hoyos, “symbolizes the shared will to elevate relations to a higher level of understanding and joint action.”On this occasion, the meeting was enriched by the participation of key partners such as Spain, the United States, and Mexico, which reaffirm its inclusive and results-oriented nature.“Panama is an ideal platform to expand trade and cooperation in the region —Hoyos emphasized-, and therefore, the Panamanian interest is key: to use Korean experience and capital to modernize infrastructure, boost digital connectivity projects, and consolidate Panama as the main gateway and operations center for Korean companies to the rest of Latin America.”The meeting was attended by Lydia María Peralta Cordero, Vice Minister of Bilateral Affairs and International Cooperation of Costa Rica; Hugo Francisco Rivera Fernández, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs and International Cooperation of the Dominican Republic; Adriana Mira, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador; María Luisa Ramírez, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala; and Cindy Larissa Rodríguez Mendoza, Vice Minister of Cooperation and International Promotion of Honduras.“Korea contributes in a special way to strengthening that trust,” emphasized Vice Minister Yoonjoo.He stated that the round table is a multilateral forum that allows Korea to expand cooperation with Central America in areas such as sustainable development, climate change, food security, technology, trade, and investment.He recalled that this meeting aims to strengthen economic and political cooperation, expand the existing Free Trade Agreement in force since 2018, promote joint projects in sustainable agriculture and digital development, and consolidate strategic alliances.In their discussions, the delegations of both regions reviewed the general vision of cooperation between Korea-Central America, the challenges of cooperation in public security, the promotion of regional and international cooperation in public security, and the shared path towards a future of Korea-Central America cooperation.Following the Korea-Central America round table, this Thursday will be the Korea-Central America Trade and Investment Forum, a platform to stimulate public-private cooperation, promote responsible investment, and strengthen the articulation of the business communities of the two regions.“Korea-Central America promote a 'coherent, strategic, and trust-guided international cooperation'” was first published in La Verdad Panamá.The United States was represented by Joseph Salazar, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State; Mexico by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Spain by Álvaro Borrego, Deputy Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.The multilateral component included representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Organization of American States, and the Korean National Police Agency.Executives from SICA, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, CAF—Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Inter-American Development Bank also participated.The acting Minister Hoyos announced that from this meeting will emerge “a long-term vision declaration,” a document called to guide the future of cooperation between Korea and Central America in a structured, strategic, and ambitious manner.Regarding the designation of the meeting's theme “Improving Public Security,” he said it reflects a regional imperative that unites and challenges.“Public security in Central America —he affirmed- is a multidimensional challenge, influenced by the presence of organized crime, the vulnerability of youth, persistent socioeconomic gaps, and other factors that, in turn, fuel the dynamics of irregular migration.”“Addressing these challenges requires not only solid national policies, but also international alliances that provide capabilities, knowledge, and innovative solutions,” he remarked.The acting Foreign Minister Hoyos recognized that to address the issue of public security, it is essential that regional organizations and the private sector play a key role in promoting stability, prosperity, and social inclusion.“With the political backing of our governments, the participation of global and regional partners, and the combined energy of the public and private sectors, we have the opportunity to build long-term solutions that strengthen security, prosperity, and sustainable development in our nations,” he concluded.The fifth Panama round table, according to the acting Vice Minister Hoyos, aims to identify the most pressing challenges in public security, review the current state of cooperation, and discuss concrete ways to move forward.It also seeks to share best practices, successful experiences, and accumulated lessons, explore new areas of collaboration between Korea and Central America, and strengthen coordination between institutions responsible for implementing cooperation on the ground, including mechanisms that promote greater private investment and strong business networks.Park Yoonjoo, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea, highlighted that the round table held in Panama “is a unique milestone in cooperation that initiates a new stage between nations that share common interests as strong allies.”He underscored the value of diplomacy because it strengthens trust between allied nations.José Eduardo Alpuche, Ambassador of Belize to Panama, also participated.As partner countries, delegations from the United States, Mexico, and Spain were also present.
