Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African diplomats gather for a meeting of the African Group of Ambassadors in Korea in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Korea is deepening its diplomatic engagement with African nations, convening a high-level meeting with ambassadors on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for a major ministerial gathering set for early June.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it held a trilateral meeting with the African Group of Ambassadors in Korea and the Korea-Africa Foundation to review preparations for the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for June 1 and a business forum on June 2.
About 20 African diplomatic missions took part in the talks.
Chung Kwang-yong, director general for African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the ministry, said strengthening strategic ties between Korea and African nations has become increasingly important amid shifting global dynamics. He said the upcoming ministerial meeting will build on momentum from the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit and a senior officials’ meeting held last year.
Chafik Rachadi, ambassador of Morocco to Korea, said African nations welcomed the preparations for the upcoming ministerial meetings and will actively cooperate to ensure the talks produce substantive results.
He also noted the approach of Africa Day on May 25, which marks the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union. He suggested that joint celebrations held with the Korea-Africa Foundation would serve to further deepen mutual understanding between the two regions.
Kim Young-chae, president of the Korea-Africa Foundation, said cooperation between Korea and Africa should extend beyond government-level exchanges to include stronger engagement in economic and cultural sectors. Kim said close coordination with African diplomats remains essential in that effort.
The ministry said it aims to use the upcoming meetings to expand practical cooperation with Africa, which is gaining strategic importance as a source of key minerals and alternative supply chains during a period of global economic uncertainty.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
