Australia, S. Korea to enhance currency ties

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has met in Washington his Korean counterpart to discuss ways to strengthen the two countries' currency swap and other financial cooperation.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg discusses with his Korean counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki in Washington.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg discusses with his Korean counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki in Washington. Source: Getty Image

Minister Josh Frydenberg has discussed with his Korean counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki  the mutual cooperation in currency swap, hydrogen economy and external policies.

Both of them were in the U.S. capital for the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting, as well as meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Hong and Frydenberg said they will support both central banks' financial cooperation in terms of the 2017 currency swap deal that expires in February next year.

The current deal allows for the exchange of up to 9 trillion won (US$7.5 billion) or A$10 billion (US$6.8 billion) in local currencies between the two central banks. Under the initial swap deal in 2014, the exchange of local currencies was set at up to 5 trillion won or A$5 billion.

The swap deal is set to expire Feb. 7, 2020, and could be extended by consent from both sides.

A currency swap is a tool used to defend against financial turmoil by allowing a country beset by a liquidity crunch to borrow money from others with its own currency.

Last month, the two countries signed an initial agreement to help their companies push forward joint research and development, and pilot hydrogen projects.


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By Yang J. Joo

Presented by Yang J. Joo




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