Seoul in full preparation for Korea-Africa Summit
As preparations for the upcoming Korea-Africa Summit gain momentum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a consultation with the diplomatic missions of African countries on Wednesday.
The meeting reviewed the current status of preparations for the summit scheduled to take place in Seoul this June. Chung Byung-won, deputy foreign minister, presided over the consultation, which saw the participation of 47 personnel from African diplomatic missions in Korea.
Among the attendees were 15 resident ambassadors from countries including Gabon, Morocco and South Africa, along with 11 non-resident ambassadors from nations such as Benin, Djibouti and Uganda.
Chung shared insights from his recent trip to Ethiopia, where he engaged in discussions with key figures, including the deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between Korea and African nations.
The meeting provided updates on the progress of preparations, particularly regarding publicity and protocol arrangements for the summit.
The diplomatic missions of African countries in Korea commended Korea’s communication efforts and stressed the importance of making the summit outcome-driven and mutually beneficial through close collaboration.
Before the consultation, First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun paid courtesy visits to the diplomatic missions of African countries in Korea. During his visit, Kim emphasized the pivotal role of African countries’ engagement in the success of the summit, asking for continued active participation from the diplomatic missions.
Carlos Victor Boungou, the ambassador of Gabon to Korea and chairman of the diplomatic missions of African countries here, expressed full support from the diplomatic missions for a successful summit.
Moreover, both sides agreed to convene a senior officials’ meeting in the future, with the participation of delegations from various African countries’ headquarters. The meeting will focus on issues such as the summit’s outcome document.
The Korea-Africa Summit is expected to further strengthen ties between Korea and African nations, fostering cooperation in various fields including trade, investment and development.