1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun held his first meeting with Ambassadors of African countries to Korea on the afternoon of April 1, and exchanged views on ways to strengthen the Korea-Africa partnership and to enhance cooperation on the response to COVID-19. 

2. Vice Minister Choi, reminding that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the first diplomatic ties between Korea and several African countries, stressed that the Korea-Africa relationship has advanced into a “mutually beneficial partnership” encompassing areas such as public health and disease prevention and control beyond politics, economy, and development cooperation amid unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.

o The African Ambassadors to Korea, in particular Ambassador Carlos Boungou of Gabon, the Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors in Seoul, mentioned that Korea-Africa relation has been expanded continuously with significant advances such as the establishment of the Korea-Africa Forum in 2006. The Ambassadors also hoped to further increase economic cooperation along with the creation of AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) and to seek potential ways to cooperate on the “Korean New Deal”. 

3. Vice Minister Choi expressed his gratitude for African countries’ assistance in Korean nationals’ safe return to Korea under the circumstances when lockdown measures had been in place across the African continent. He also mentioned that the Korean Government plans to continue its efforts to help African countries to overcome the pandemic.

o In particular, Vice Minister Choi voiced hope that the Korean Government’s financial contribution to COVAX AMC (COVID-19 Vaccines Advance Market Commitment) will help ensure equitable access to vaccines, which is the common interest shared among African countries.

o The African Ambassadors to Korea extended appreciation to the Korean Government‘s efforts to assist in the response to COVID-19, including its contribution to ensuring equitable access to vaccines.

4.  Vice Minister Choi, underlining that Africa should be at the focal point of diversification policy of the Korean Government, asked for support from African countries for the success of the fifth Korea-Africa Forum to be held in Seoul at the end of this year.