The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 5th Seoul Dialogue on Africa in collaboration with the Korea-Africa Foundation on Wednesday, December 14 under the theme of “recovery and leap forward centering on four major strategic areas in the post-COVID-19 era.”
The opening ceremony was attended by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Forum for Africa’s New Era Sul Hoon, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly Yun Jae-ok, Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors to Korea Carlos Victor Boungou, and President of African Fintech Network Segun Aina, etc.
Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Korean Foreign Ministry Choi Youngsam mentioned in his welcoming remarks that “Amid the international environment where uncertainties and volatilities are growing day by day, Africa has steadfastly overcome challenges through solidarity and continues to make efforts to achieve an ‘African renaissance’ through the realization of the ‘Agenda 2063’ vision, seeking opportunities for sustainable growth in new fields.”
Deputy Minister Choi also stated that Korea, as a nation with experience of rising from the ashes of war and achieving remarkable economic development, understands better than any other nation Africa’s aspirations and drive for growth. He added that Korea is determined to grow with Africa and develop long-term, future-oriented mutually beneficial cooperation as a true friend and partner of Africa.
In this regard, Deputy Minister Choi hoped that Korea and Africa, which are realizing an unprecedented historic leap, would join hands toward the dream of common prosperity, and emphasized the recent announcement of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s will to strengthen cooperation with Africa and the plan to host a Korea-Africa Special Summit in 2024 — an announcement made at the special banquet hosted by the President for African Ambassadors on November 23.
Following its opening ceremony, the 5th Seoul Dialogue on Africa was held in four sessions under the respective themes of ▴fintech and platform economy ▴green energy ▴health care and ▴infrastructure. Session presenters and panelists agreed that these four strategic areas are the most promising fields of cooperation that will lead the future Korea-Africa relationship, providing challenges and opportunities at the same time. In this regard, they shared recent relevant developments and had in-depth discussions on ways to strengthen Korea-Africa cooperation.
The 5th Seoul Dialogue on Africa provided a meaningful opportunity to seek insights on the future development direction of Korea and Africa and ways for Korea-Africa cooperation in overcoming the current crisis facing the international community amidst the great post-COVID-19 paradigm shift.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
