South Korea and African countries have agreed to convene a foreign ministers’ meeting in Seoul in June 2026 to build on the momentum of cooperation established at their inaugural summit, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The agreement was reached during the Korea-Africa Senior Officials’ Meeting on Tuesday, co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Chung Eui-hae and Angolan Ambassador to Korea Sianga Kivuila Samuel Abilio, who serves as this year's chair of the African Union.
The Senior Officials' Meeting in Seoul served as a follow-up to the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit in South Korea in June 2024.
“The session was convened to review developments in cooperation following the first Korea-Africa Summit in June last year and to discuss ways to strengthen partnerships across various sectors,” the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday.
Representatives from 47 African countries, including home delegations from 20 governments, such as Senegal’s vice foreign minister, attended the meeting.
On the Korean side, 15 government ministries and agencies, including the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, participated.
“During the meeting, the two sides assessed the current state of Korea-Africa cooperation based on the principles of shared growth, sustainability and solidarity, and exchanged views on how to deepen substantive cooperation in the years ahead,” the ministry said.
“South Korea will continue to enhance long-term and systematic partnerships with African countries through sustained dialogue and engagement,” it added.
Speaking at the meeting, Chung also "underscored the need to develop a substantive and mutually beneficial relationship with Africa to diversify (Seoul’s) diplomacy amid a turbulent global landscape," according to the Foreign Ministry.
Since the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit, the two sides have advanced a series of follow-up initiatives this year, including the launch of the Korea-Africa Critical Minerals Dialogue in February, South Korea’s accession as an observer to the Indian Ocean Commission in April and the creation of the Korea-AfCFTA Cooperation Fund in May.
dagyumji@heraldcorp.com
