South Korea Hosts African Ministers, Discusses Economic Ties and Future Summits

President Lee Jae Myung met Tuesday with foreign ministers and senior officials from 19 African countries at Cheong Wa Dae, pledging to strengthen cooperation including through regular summits. The meeting came one day after Seoul hosted the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which brought together foreign ministers and representatives from 50 African countries.

Participants adopted a joint statement agreeing to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation in supply chains and critical minerals.

Lee met Tuesday with ministers and representatives from Egypt and Kenya as well as officials from the African Union. He shook hands with an official during the session. "Africa is a continent with significant potential for growth and development, but unfortunately (Seoul) has not been able to focus on it sufficiently," Lee said at the opening of the meeting.

"I want to say that the South Korean government, since my inauguration, has been paying special attention to various countries in Africa," the president added. Lee noted that South Korea, like many African countries, was once under colonial rule and expressed willingness to "go hand in hand" with the region.

He also expressed hope that summit talks and foreign ministers' meetings between South Korea and African countries will be held regularly.

Seoul currently seeks to host a summit with African countries in 2029.