1. The 2nd Korea-African Union (AU) Policy Consultation Meeting took place in Seoul (Lotte Hotel) on October 11, with Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hong Jin-wook and Acting Chairperson of the AU Permanent Representatives Committee David Claude Pierre (Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles at the Permanent Mission to the AU) leading their respective delegations.

o Since joining the AU as an observer state in 2005, the Republic of Korea, together with the AU, has held the ministerial “ROK-Africa Forum” three times (’09, ’12, and ’16). The first policy consultation meeting took place in Seoul on September 11, 2017.

2. In the second policy consultation meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress in implementing the cooperation framework, which they agreed on at the 4th ROK-Africa Forum (’16), and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, cooperation on the global stage, and the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Africa.

o In particular, the two sides agreed to work to make concrete progress in cooperation projects, focusing on youth exchanges, human resources development, agriculture, and peace and security affairs.

o The “Korea-Africa Foundation,” officially launched in June this year to support cooperation with the public and private sectors of Africa, as well as efforts to increase presence in the region, will play a central role in pursuing cooperation projects with the AU, including annual model AU conferences, and youth forums.

o Director-General Hong explained the ROK government’s position to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and to establish a lasting peace on the Peninsula, and asked for Africa’s support for that. The AU side expressed its support for the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, which the ROK government is leading.

※ The policy consultation meeting was also attended by officials from relevant government agencies and organizations in the ROK, including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Rural Development Administration, the National Geographic Information Institute, the Korea International Cooperation Agency, and the Korea-Africa Foundation.

3. The AU delegation paid a courtesy call on Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on the afternoon of October 11. In the courtesy call, the two sides discussed the latest progress on peace and security, and economic integration in Africa; ways to step up cooperation between the ROK and Africa; and situations around the world, including peace on the Korean Peninsula.

4. The AU is a key organization which leads Africa to speak with one voice for Africa’s stability and economic integration. The ROK government will continue efforts to advance its relations with the AU to further diversify diplomacy towards Africa, emerging as a future growth engine.

* unofficial translation