Korea and Africa Strengthen Ties at Foreign Ministers' Meeting

"There is an East African proverb that says, 'When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.'"
 
Foreign Minister Park Jin made this remark during his opening speech at the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which commenced on June 1 at the Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. He emphasized that by combining experiences and strengths, Korea and Africa can find better solutions to the challenges they face today and turn them into opportunities.
 
Minister Park also announced that based on the outcomes of this meeting, discussions will begin for the 2029 Korea-Africa Summit. The inaugural Korea-Africa Summit was held two years ago in June 2024.
 
The meeting was attended by representatives from 50 countries, including African foreign ministers, as well as heads of four regional international organizations: the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
 
This is the first time the South Korean government has invited all 54 African countries and four regional international organizations, with 50 countries and four organizations gathering in Seoul.
 
Minister Park noted, "We have gathered at a crucial time when the global order is rapidly changing," adding that the world is facing complex challenges in various areas such as supply chains, energy, and food security, which continue to heighten uncertainty in the global economy.
 
He continued, "In this transitional period, individual countries face limitations in their responses, and the impact of crises varies by country, but the ripple effects are deeply interconnected. In this context, close cooperation between Korea and Africa is more important than ever."
 
He highlighted President Lee Jae-myung's sincere commitment to cooperation with Africa, referencing the president's first face-to-face meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the G7 summit in Canada shortly after taking office last June, as well as his visits to Egypt and South Africa in his first year in office.
 
On June 2, President Lee is scheduled to meet with about 20 ministerial-level officials from African countries and international organizations attending the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting.  
Minister Park co-chaired the meeting with Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who, in his welcoming remarks, described the meeting as a reflection of the growing strength and strategic importance of the Africa-Korea relationship, as well as a demonstration of their shared commitment to building partnerships.
 
The Foreign Ministers' Meeting was themed "Korea-Africa Partnership for Joint Response in a Global Transition Period."
 
Following the opening ceremony, the meeting was divided into two sessions. The first session focused on "Strengthening Economic Cooperation: Promoting Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Growth," reviewing the current status of cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, science and technology, education, food security, and supply chains, and discussing ways to enhance economic cooperation between the two sides.
 
The second session addressed "Joint Response to Global Challenges: Korea-Africa Solidarity," exploring ways to expand practical cooperation in areas such as development cooperation, climate change, health, peace and security, and human exchanges.
 
Minister Park held individual bilateral meetings with all attending foreign ministers to discuss various issues, including the entry of Korean companies, responses to supply chain crises, and the protection of overseas citizens, while seeking ways to enhance bilateral relations.
 
On June 2, a Korea-Africa Business Forum will be held at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul as a side event of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting, with over 300 participants, including business leaders, government officials, and diplomats from Korea and Africa. Following Minister Park's opening remarks, Sung Kim, President of Hyundai Motor's Strategy Planning Division, and Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of AfCFTA, will each deliver keynote speeches.