Yoon Holds Relay Talks with Leaders of 10 African Countries... "Pursuing Win-Win Cooperation"

Series of Bilateral Meetings on the Occasion of the Korea-Africa Summit
Strengthening Cooperation with Korean Companies Possessing Excellent Technology

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting before the summit meeting with President Faure Essozimna Gnassingb? of Togo at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 3rd, President Yoon Suk-yeol held bilateral talks with the leaders of 10 African countries who visited Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, discussing ways to enhance cooperation. The government plans to strengthen its status as a 'global pivotal state' by expanding cooperation with African countries in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure, and agriculture.

According to the Presidential Office, President Yoon held separate summit meetings in the morning with Prime Minister Samuel Matekane Enchokwane of Lesotho, President Alassane Ouattara of C?te d'Ivoire, President Prithvirajsing Roopun of Mauritius, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, President Faure Essozimna Gnassingb? of Togo, and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

In the afternoon, he held bilateral talks with President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova of S?o Tom? and Pr?ncipe, President Umaro Sissoco Embal? of Guinea-Bissau, and President Jos? Maria Pereira Neves of Cabo Verde.

These presidents visited Korea to attend the Korea-Africa Summit scheduled for the 4th and 5th. Under the theme 'Creating the Future Together,' the Korea-Africa Summit, hosted by Korea for the first time, is expected to be attended by 48 of the 55 African Union (AU) member countries. President Yoon will hold summit meetings with leaders from 25 countries who are visiting Korea.

During the bilateral talks, President Yoon emphasized strengthening mutually beneficial, customized cooperation in various fields such as energy, infrastructure, critical minerals, and agriculture. He also stressed that this Korea-Africa Summit is an expression of Korea's commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities and contributions to the international community under the global pivotal state policy.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting ahead of the summit meeting with Jos? Maria Pereira Neves, President of Cabo Verde, held on the 3rd at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

By country, first, with C?te d'Ivoire, Korea's first African diplomatic partner, both sides agreed to promptly conclude a trade and investment promotion framework, a double taxation avoidance agreement, an investment protection agreement, and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation to expand practical cooperation. The two leaders welcomed the signing of a basic agreement for a $1 billion Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) from this year through 2028 during this visit and agreed to strengthen development cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, education, and other sectors.

With Mauritius, a key country along the Indian Ocean coast, cooperation will be expanded in various fields such as infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, and education. President Roopun stated that Mauritius is one of the most business-friendly countries in Africa and expressed hope for further expansion of trade and investment between the two countries. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen multilateral cooperation through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), headquartered in Mauritius.

With Zimbabwe, based on the trade and investment promotion framework currently being negotiated, both countries agreed to activate economic exchanges in various fields, including critical minerals. President Mnangagwa expressed gratitude for Korea's significant contribution to the development of Zimbabwe's agriculture sector, which forms the backbone of the national economy. Korea accounts for 5% of total trade with Africa, and with Togo, they agreed to promptly conclude an investment protection agreement to support stable business activities.

In the bilateral talks with Mozambique, President Yoon requested continued attention to Korean companies involved in natural gas field development projects. He also emphasized close cooperation beyond fossil fuels into critical minerals and responded positively to President Nyusi's request for Korea to take charge of police security training in Mozambique.

With Guinea-Bissau, which is recording high economic growth, both countries agreed to further specify cooperation projects in agricultural technology and health infrastructure development. Discussions with Cabo Verde covered ways for Korean companies to engage in various sectors such as renewable energy, marine fisheries, and agriculture.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting before the summit meeting with Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, held on the 3rd at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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