1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with his Tanzanian counterpart Augustine Mahiga on April 24, and discussed a range of issues, including the progress in the ROK-Tanzania relations, ways to enhance the bilateral relations, economic and trade cooperation, and North Korea.

o The latest visit to the ROK by Minister Mahiga was arranged to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the ROK and Tanzania. The Tanzanian side is taking steps to open its embassy in the ROK in a bid to strengthen the ROK-Tanzania relations.

2. With this year marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Minister Yun took note of the cooperative relations between the two countries, which have been continuously strengthened. Minister Yun especially stressed that there is huge potential for further development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the ROK and Tanzania, based on trust built through the recent robust high-level exchanges between the two countries.

3. Minister Mahiga expressed the Tanzanian government’s strong willingness to achieve sustainable economic development, and asked the ROK to actively share its experience of industrial development. Minister Mahiga also hoped that the two countries will continue to explore concrete ways to work together towards mutually-beneficial economic development, building upon the relations of trust established through bilateral exchanges for a long time.

o In response, Minister Yun said that Tanzania has great potential for growth, citing the country’s abundant natural resources and stable situation, as well as its economic growth rate of over 7 percent over the past few years, attributed to the Tanzanian government’s proactive development policy. Minister Yun also said that enhancing bilateral cooperation in tourism is important, as about 3,000 Korean tourists visit tourist attractions in Tanzania every year, including Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti National Park. He stressed that expanding trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, which have complementary economic structures, is beneficial to both countries.

4. Minister Yun emphasized that North Korea’s continued provocations, including nuclear tests, ballistic missile launches and a terrorist attack with a chemical weapon, are posing a serious threat to peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula, but in the entire international community. Minister Yun expressed hope that the Tanzanian government will actively participate in implementing UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea.

o Minister Mahiga said that North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons will be a disaster for the whole world, including Africa, and that Tanzania, totally opposed to North Korea’s nuclear weapons development, will continue to faithfully implement related Security Council resolutions in cooperation with the ROK.

5. The latest ROK-Tanzania Foreign Ministers’ meeting served as an opportunity to further strengthen the friendly relations between the ROK and Tanzania, a key resource-rich country in Africa, thereby laying the foundation for economic exchanges and mutually-beneficial growth of the two countries. The meeting also helped increase Africa’s support regarding issues on the Korean Peninsula.


* unofficial translation