President Moon Jae-in on Oct. 5 at Cheong Wa Dae speaks on the phone with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to request the latter's support for the bid of Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee to head the World Trade Organization. (Left: screen capture from Cheong Wa Dae's YouTube channel, right: Yonhap News)
 

By Lee Kyoung Mi and Lee Jihae
 

President Moon Jae-in on Oct. 5 asked Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in a phone summit to support Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee's bid to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO).
 

Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Kang Min-seok said in a written briefing that in the 20-minute talks that began at 9 p.m., President Moon said, "Korea's candidate, Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, is the most qualified person to achieve our two countries' shared goals of expanding free trade, advancing the WTO and restoring the multilateral trade system."
 

President Bolsonaro responded by saying he fully recognizes Minister Yoo's capability.
 

Both leaders also discussed responding to COVID-19.

President Moon said, "I find it fortunate that the recent COVID-19 situation in Brazil is stabilizing to some extent and that your economy also seems to be on track for recovery."
 

"I look forward to our two countries expanding bilateral cooperation, not only in COVID-19 responses but also in various fields such as trade, infrastructure, science, technology and healthcare."
 

President Bolsonaro said he has always respected Korea and considered it an exemplary country, and thanked the Korean government's support of COVID-19 diagnostic kits.
 

With last year marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two leaders agreed to expand bilateral trade to mark the beginning of another 60 years as well as quickly resume talks on a trade agreement between Korea and MERCOSUR, a South American trading bloc.

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