Press Briefing
Deputy Spokesperson Lee Jaewoong
August 12, 2021  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun will deliver congratulatory remarks at the launching ceremony of the 3rd “new northern young future pioneer group” to take place on Friday, August 13, in a hybrid online and offline format.

The “new northern young future pioneer group” program is a people participatory program under the New Northern Policy that the Korean government is conducting to explore business plans for the young hoping to build presence in Russia, and help carry them out.

In his congratulatory remarks, Vice Minister Choi will encourage the group to robustly carry out activities to open up a new horizon of Korea-Russia cooperation with passion and creative ideas.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun will travel to Morocco, Senegal and Nigeria from August 14 to 21. The three countries are Korea’s key cooperation partners in North and West Africa. This trip to Africa will be the first of its kind by a Korean Vice Minister after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vice Minister Choi will meet with the foreign ministers of the three countries to discuss bilateral issues, visit sites of development cooperation funded by the Korean government, and attend meetings with Korean businesspeople.

This visit is expected to serve as a meaningful opportunity to seek ways for mutually beneficial Korea-Africa cooperation in response to requests made by African countries for stronger cooperation and to broaden the scope of diplomacy of Korea towards Africa as a mid-range advanced country.