1. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan will tour three African countries, namely, Gabon, the Democratic 
Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, April 2-9. His visit to Gabon will mark the first by a Korean Foreign 
Minister in 30 years since the one by former Foreign Minister Noh Shin-yeong in 1980, while his visit to 
the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia will be the first-ever such visit.

2. During the tour, Minister Kim will meet bilaterally with his Gabonese, DR Congo and Ethiopian 
counterparts, Paul Toungui, Alexis Thambwe Mwamba and Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, for 
discussions on ways to bolster bilateral cooperation, the regional situation in Africa and around 
the Korean peninsula, and cooperation on the international stage. He will also pay a courtesy call 
on Gabonese President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba; President Joseph Kabila Kabange and Prime 
Minister Adolphe Muzito of DR Congo; and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Minister Kim plans 
to meet with Jean Ping, Chair of the African Union (AU) Commission, as well.

3. In each of the three countries, Minister Kim will hold discussions on pending bilateral issues: 
cooperation projects in the fields of oil and energy sources that are underway as a follow-up 
measure to agreements reached during the Gabonese President’s visit to Korea; infrastructure- 
and resource-related projects in DR Congo; and the support project for Ethiopia’s Korean War veterans 
on the occasion of the 60th year since Ethiopia’s participation in the War. Meanwhile, he will consult 
with the AU regarding the 2012 Korea-Africa Forum and potential joint cooperation projects. Also, 
Minister Kim will hold a gathering with local Korean residents and firms, and express a strong 
willingness to support Korean firms’ bid to enter the market in Africa, whose importance as an 
emerging market and an energy and resources treasure-house is rising.

4. The tour, which will take place as part of total and complex diplomacy efforts underway since the 
inauguration of Minister Kim, will help strengthen “business diplomacy” to support our firms’ bids 
to win orders and lay the groundwork for “cooperation for co-prosperity.”

                       Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation