South Korea and representatives from 50 African countries met in Seoul on June 1 to agree on strengthening cooperation to jointly address global challenges.
According to South Korea's foreign ministry, the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held under the theme of 'Partnership for Joint Responses to Global Challenges.' Participants pledged mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure and critical minerals supply chains, building on the outcomes of the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit.
The joint statement covered support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expanded Korean ODA, climate change responses, health cooperation and peace and security promotion. The two sides also agreed to continue consultations on convening the 2nd Korea-Africa Critical Minerals Dialogue.
Participants welcomed the proposal to hold the Korea-Africa Summit in 2029 and agreed to maintain momentum through the 8th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference (KOAFEC) scheduled for September. Ghana's foreign minister praised South Korea for proceeding with the meeting despite the Ebola scare.
