Seoul: South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok met with the chief of FTSE Russell on Thursday and agreed to boost cooperation on the further progress of the country's capital and financial markets, Seoul's finance ministry said. Choi's meeting with FTSE Russell CEO Fiona Bassett was held in Seoul after the London-based organization announced earlier this month that it will add South Korean sovereign bonds to its key World Government Bond Index, effective in November 2025. According to Yonhap News Agency, the FTSE chief said the inclusion decision was the result of the Seoul government's efforts to advance the market and it will lead to a significant increase in global investors' investment in South Korean sovereign bonds as they support such efforts. Bassett also vowed to work closely with the Seoul government for the development of the overall South Korean capital and foreign exchange markets, according to the ministry. The Seoul government has implemented a set of market reform measures, such as exte nding trading hours for the local currency and making it easy for foreign investors to settle bond trades. Choi said FTSE Russell made "a win-win" decision as it will not only help advance the South Korean financial market but also provide global investors with favorable investment conditions. "The government will actively communicate with global financial institutions and investors, and do its best to address their difficulties regarding their investment in South Korea to ensure smooth inflows of global funds," Choi added.