Korea-Africa Summit with 48 Countries Attending... "Cooperation with Africa is Not an Option but a Necessity" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon Holds Summit Talks with Leaders of 25 Countries
"Rich in Critical Mineral Resources... Partners in 4th Industrial Revolution Cooperation"

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is briefing on the Korea-Africa Summit at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on the 30th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol will host the 'Korea-Africa Summit' on the 4th and 5th of next month, with representatives from 48 countries attending. President Yoon is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with leaders from 25 countries. This summit marks the largest multilateral summit since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and is the first multilateral summit that South Korea is hosting targeting Africa.

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, held a briefing at the Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 30th and stated, "The Korea-Africa Summit, held under the theme 'Creating the Future Together,' will focus on cooperation as the fundamental principle and engage in in-depth discussions on three goals: mutual growth, sustainability, and solidarity."

Kim added, "Following last year's Korea-Developing Countries Summit, this year's Korea-Africa Summit aims to expand strategic cooperation with the 'Global South.' Hosting this summit aligns with the principles of inclusion, trust, and reciprocity that underpin our Indo-Pacific strategy and corresponds with our responsible diplomacy policy to contribute to closing global gaps as a responsible member of the international community."

He continued, "Most of the 48 invited countries will attend the summit, which runs until the 5th of next month. Among them, leaders from about 30 countries are expected to participate, along with heads of regional international organizations including the African Union." Among these, heads of state such as kings and presidents from 25 countries will visit Korea, and President Yoon plans to hold bilateral talks with all of them. Official visiting countries such as Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mauritania will hold luncheon and dinner meetings with the president. On the 5th, the '2024 Korea-Africa Business Summit,' hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea International Trade Association, will take place.

Kim stated, "Africa's strategic importance has grown more than ever. The African continent has 60% of its population under the age of 25 and is the fastest-growing population region in the world. The African Continental Free Trade Area, launched in 2019, heralds the emergence of a massive market with a population of 1.4 billion and a gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.4 trillion."

He also explained, "Africa is rich in critical mineral resources and is an essential partner for cooperation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It holds 30% of the world's mineral resources, including key raw materials for strategic industries such as chromium, manganese, and cobalt, which are vital for next-generation batteries."

Kim further noted, "Africa leads discussions on peace and security agendas on the international stage and has strengthened its status and influence by playing a casting vote role on contentious issues. Africa holds 54 votes at the United Nations (UN), more than any other country, and about 40% of the UN Security Council's agenda relates to Africa."

He added, "Cooperation with Africa is not a choice but a necessity. Major countries such as the United States, Japan, China, and Russia have been operating summit-level forums with Africa. Considering South Korea's standing in the international community, hosting this first summit is somewhat overdue."

President Yoon will hold a luncheon meeting with the Sierra Leone leader on the 31st and will have luncheon and dinner meetings with the leaders of Tanzania and Ethiopia, respectively, on the 2nd of next month. The main summit will be held on the 4th, and on the evening of the 3rd, a welcoming dinner will be hosted for the attending heads of state and delegations. President Yoon will also hold a luncheon meeting with the Mauritanian leader, co-host of the summit, on the 5th of next month.

On the 5th, the '2024 Korea-Africa Business Summit,' hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea International Trade Association, will be held. During the summit, 13 side events will take place, including the Korea-Africa Youth Startup Forum, Global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Leadership Forum, Tourism Forum, and Agriculture Conference.

A senior official from the Presidential Office commented on the possibility of regularizing the Korea-Africa Summit, saying, "Holding it every 2 to 3 years is challenging due to the distance and scale of the project. Considering the current presidential term, it would be ideal to convene once every 4 to 5 years, allowing each administration to host at least once."

The official added, "Starting with this summit, we plan to differentiate agendas and cooperation by region and within Africa itself, focusing on selection and concentration. If necessary, we will conduct direct visits or facilitate high-level exchanges to gradually institutionalize the summit."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.