SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) — The foreign ministry said Wednesday it will hold a special seminar to discuss Africa’s strategic and economic importance, and ways to enhance bilateral relations ahead of a Korea-Africa foreign ministers’ meeting.
The ministerial meeting is set to take place in Seoul next month, bringing together foreign ministers and other senior officials from dozens of African countries as part of follow-up efforts to the 2024 Korea-Africa summit with the aim of strengthening mutually beneficial and practical cooperation.
The seminar, themed “Korea-Africa Partnership for Joint Responses to Global Crisis,” will be held next Wednesday, co-hosted by the foreign ministry and the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
It will focus on Africa’s strategic and economic value amid heightened geopolitical risks stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and shifting global supply chains, as the Cape of Good Hope route and African ports have emerged as alternative hubs to help ease global logistics disruptions, according to the ministry.
Africa is also considered a stable supplier of critical minerals and crude oil, and South Korean companies are expanding their presence in the region, the ministry added.
“We plan to finalize key agenda items for the upcoming ministerial meeting based on expert input presented at the seminar,” a ministry official said.
This file photo taken June 2, 2024, shows a South Korea-Africa foreign ministers’ meeting held in Seoul. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
