By Xu Aiying and Lee Jihae

President Moon Jae-in on July 3 held phone talks with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez on bilateral cooperation in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Deputy Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Yoon Jae-kwan said in a written briefing that President Moon thanked the Argentine government for making exceptions to allow Korean entrepreneurs to enter the country despite the closure of the Latin American country's borders.

The phone summit was President Moon's 40th with a foreign head of state since the pandemic broke out.

He asked for Argentina's "continued consideration and support to allow more entries going forward."


President Fernandez praised Korea as a global example for quickly and transparently responding to the pandemic outbreak from its outset. He also thanked Seoul for sharing its quarantine experience with Argentina through videoconferencing and its provision of personal protective equipment on a humanitarian basis.

President Moon said that because COVID-19 is not limited to a single country, it is more important than ever to unite through mutual trust and inclusiveness and enhance global solidarity and cooperation. He added that Korea intends to actively and continuously take part in international efforts to develop vaccines and treatments, seek cooperation in developing healthcare and strengthen capacity in responding to pandemics.

The two leaders also discussed the opening of the market for Argentinian agricultural and livestock goods and expanding investment, with procedures for economic cooperation and the import approval processes of both countries underway.