주카메룬 대한민국 대사관

Cameroon Tribune

2024 Korea-Africa Summit: A Big Step towards a Future We Build Together

Op-ed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Ki-wook NAM

The 2024 Korea-Africa Summit was successfully held on June 4 and 5 in Korea under the theme ‘The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity’, concluding with a joint declaration on concrete commitments from both sides.

As Cameroon is often known, the city of Seoul and Goyang in Korea last week was ‘Africa in miniature’, bustling with hundreds of delegation from 48 African countries and four international organizations.

33 heads of states were present at this historic moment. From Cameroon, Minister of External Relations H.E. Mbella Mbella made valuable contributions at the meetings representing the head of state, H.E. Paul Biya.

Some might consider this Summit as merely one of the many meetings with other countries held in a similar format, but a number of important aspects of the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit merit more attention.

First, it was the first ever multilateral summit that Korea held inviting all the African heads of states, in alignment with the Korean Government’s vision to be a ‘Global Pivotal State’. Korea is one of the world’s most developed economies with a GDP per capita of more than 32,000 USD now, but 70 years ago, it was one of the most impoverished nations after the Korean War.

And throughout the history of Korea’s growth and development, African countries have been by the side of Korea. Korea remembers how South Africa and Ethiopia fought for Korea’s freedom in the Korean War along with more than 340,000 troops from 16 countries in the 1950s. Ever since Korea established diplomatic relations with African countries after their independence from the 1950s to 1970s, the ties became stronger in various domains like trade and development cooperation.

The 2024 Korea-Africa Summit was a strong manifestation of Korea’s political will to elevate the longstanding cooperation and friendship with Africa to the next level. As a country that rose from the ashes of war and became the world’s 10^th largest economy, Korea’s strength lies in understanding Africa’s zeal for security and prosperity, while being equipped with the skillset and will to forge a strong partnership.

Second, the outcomes of the Summit will lay the foundation for this partnership essential to tackle our common global challenges. As articulated in the Joint Declaration of the Summit, the heads of states made important commitments around three pillars: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity.

For Shared Growth, heads of states emphasized the need to strengthen institutional frameworks for economic cooperation such as the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), Trade and Investment Promotion Frameworks (TIPFs) etc. Korea committed to speed up the discussions with African countries on these agreements, and to support Africa’s regional economic integration efforts through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Furthermore, the Korean Government announced that the size of the Official Development Aid (ODA) will be expanded to 10 billion USD by 2030, and that export finance of 14 billion USD will be provided for Korean businesses to facilitate trade with Africa.

The Summit had timely discussions on the global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, health crises, energy crises, and supply chain disruptions as well. Enhancing sustainability is crucial especially in Africa which faces disproportionate impact of these challenges. Heads of states agreed that it would be immensely useful to explore sustainable solutions to these crises utilizing Africa’s young and dynamic population and Korea’s technology and experience. Korea has committed itself to supporting Africa’s capability building for food security, by sharing know-hows and expanding its K-rice belt initiatives. The agreement to launch the Korea-Africa Critical Minerals Dialogue is also one of the many deliverables to be highlighted.

On the last pillar, solidarity, heads of states reaffirmed that building sustainable peace and stability is essential for the realization of the African Union’s vision for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. As I mentioned before, Korea remembers vividly that the UN and the international community fought for its freedom in the Korean War. In 2024, Korean troops are contributing to the peace of Africa in the Gulf of Aden and in South Sudan. Especially as Korea is currently a UN Security Council member until 2025, Korea will continue to strengthen its efforts for the peace and stability of Africa.

Although the Summit concluded, Korea and Africa are in a new beginning of partnership for a shared bright future. As the Korean Ambassador to Cameroon, I am thrilled to witness this historic moment myself, and look forward to enhancing bilateral relations with Cameroon, one of Korea’s oldest friends in Africa. Korea will faithfully implement the outcomes of the Summit, and I expect our bilateral relations in trade, health, e-government will continue to expand. 

In this context, it is a great pleasure for me that the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Cho Tae-yul and the Minister of External Relations, H.E. Mbella Mbella signed the agreement for reciprocal exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports, on the occasion of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting which was held on June 2 before the Summit.

Once the agreement comes into force, it is expected to immensely facilitate the implementation of the outcomes of the Summit, and strengthen people to people exchanges and the friendship of the two countries for another 60 years.