Rice Talks to Be Held in Korea

Rice talks will be held in Korea for the first time.

The government announced on September 13 that it will host the fourth round of rice talks with China from 9:30 a.m. today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s conference room. Rice talks were held only in the trade partner country or in Geneva, Switzerland.

China is known to have asked for the most fastidious conditions to South Korea among nine rice trade partner countries.

Chinese delegation is headed by Jian Xiang-tian, Vice President of China World Trade Corporation under Chinese Ministry of Commerce and is composed of joint team of Chinese ministries. Lee Jae-gil, deputy minister for the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) Negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is is heading the Korean delegation.

The Korean authorities plan to conduct intensive negotiations with the other nine trade partners this month, following the fourth round of rice talks in the U.S. on September 10.

Ji-Wan Cha cha@donga.com