Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will host South Korea Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon for the inaugural session of the Strategic Consultations for Allied Partnership January 19 in Washington.

"Topics of discussion will include global, regional and bilateral issues of mutual concern," the State Department said in a January 10 press release.

"The Strategic Consultations reflect the dynamic global partnership we have developed with the Republic of Korea [ROK] and consolidate the strong bilateral cooperation that we have long shared," the statement says.

For additional information on U.S. policies, see East Asia and the Pacific Region and South Korea

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Following is the text of the statement

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 10, 2006

STATEMENT BY SEAN MCCORMACK, SPOKESMAN

U.S.- Republic of Korea Strategic Consultations For Allied Partnership

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will host Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon for the inaugural session of Strategic Consultations for Allied Partnership January 19 at the Department of State.  These talks were agreed to by President Bush and Korean President Roh at the U.S.-Republic of Korea bilateral summit held in Gyeongju, South Korea in November and announced in their Joint Declaration.  Topics of discussion will include global, regional and bilateral issues of mutual concern.  The Strategic Consultations reflect the dynamic global partnership we have developed with the Republic of Korea and consolidate the strong bilateral cooperation that we have long shared.