By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol held bilateral meetings with President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, President Andry Nirina Rajoelina of Madagascar, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of Liberia, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana, who are attending the Korea-Africa Summit on June 4. (June 4-5). During the morning session of the Korea-Africa Summit, President Yoon said that he could feel the will and sincerity of the leaders to promote Korea-Africa cooperation by listening to their remarks, and he looks forward to realizing the vast potential of each other as the
UNJournal Kayla Lee | “Any Korean company, which might be interested to invest in tourism and hospitality industry in Croatia, can find a very attractive business opportunity,” said Ambassador H.E. Damir Kušen of Croatia in Seoul. Delivering welcome speech at the Croatian-Korean Business Forum held at Coryo Daeyeongak Tower in Seoul, Amb. Kusen said, “Let me remind you that Croatia has more than 1700 kilometers of the coastline with a lot of space. With an introduction of the new direct flights between Seoul and Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, the two countries are becoming neighbors.” Noting
UNJournal kayla Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol on June 3 held a series of bilateral meetings with African leaders who are in South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit to discuss issues of mutual interest. From morning to afternoon, Yoon held bilateral talks with the leaders of 10 African countries, according to the presidential office. In the morning, Yoon held separate meetings with six African leaders: Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Togo Presid
UNJournal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee hosted an official welcome dinner on June 3 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul for more than 60 heads of state and delegates from 48 African countries, who are visiting Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit (June 4-5). Prior to the dinner, the President and Mrs. Yoon received the African heads of state and government, exchanged pleasantries and took commemorative photos. The President couple then entered the dinner hall together amid the applause of the guests. “Korea's economic growth is the result of a trinity of efforts: leaders
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol held his first bilateral meeting with Sierra Leone on the sidelines of the Korea-Africa Summit on May 31. During the meeting with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio at the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation. In addition, the 'K-Rice Belt' project, which is underway since 2023, will contribute to improving agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone, as well as education and health secto
UNJournal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on June 2 to announce the start of negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and discuss strengthening cooperation on key mineral resources. President Yoon held a luncheon meeting with President Hassan, who is visiting South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, at the Yongsan Presidential Office later in the day. It has been 18 years since former President Jakaya Kikwete visited Korea in 2006. “Today, I am pleased to announce the start of negotiations on an Economic Partnership Agreement (
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who is visiting South Korea for the Korea-Africa Summit, on June 2 and agreed on the need to thoroughly implement sanctions against North Korea to block its nuclear and missile development in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. According the presidential office, the two leaders discussed the issue during a dinner meeting at the Yongsan presidential office. The two leaders plan to cooperate closely on the international diplomatic stage, including Ethiopia's support for South K
By UN Journal Kayla Lee Prime Minister Han Deok-soo received Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, who is on an official visit to Korea (May 30-June 1), at Government Complex Seoul, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest on May 31. Prime Minister Han congratulated Vietnam on the recent election of President To Lam, and emphasized the importance of strategic communication and exchanges between the two countries to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership in all fields. Foreign Minister Son thanked Han for his hospitality and praised the high-level exchanges, includ
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The ongoing reform to enhance the democratic state governance system in New Uzbekistan is being implemented under the principle of "The state serves the people, not vice versa." Indeed, today, social advancement is inseparable from the consolidation of the state, fostering active societal engagement, shaping positive attitudes of the state servant towards society, serving the people, ensuring individual satisfaction, promoting honesty, and establishing justice, all of which are essential in modernizing social progress. The enactment of the Law "On Public Service" repr
UNJournal Jon Lee | “Georgia aims to conclude two important economic framework agreements with Korea this year,” said H.E. Tarash Papaskua, Ambassador of Georgia to the ROK on May 27,2024. At a reception to celebrate the Independence Day of Georgia held at Grand Hyatt Seoul on May 27, Amb. Papaskua said, “I am delighted to highlight the progress we have achieved together with our Korean partners in our talks on two important economic framework agreements, the Georgia-Korea Economic Partnership Agreement and the Agreement on Promotion and Protection of Investments, which we aim to conclude alre
UNJournal Jon Lee | Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul hosted a luncheon to welcome visiting ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn on May 28 and exchanged views on: the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations this year; the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP); the implementation of the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI); and ways to advance ASEAN-ROK practical cooperation. Cho noted that ASEAN and South Korea have been inseparable partners since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1989, and stressed that South Korea will continue to deepen
UNJournal Kayla Lee | Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with visiting International Crisis Group on May 28 and exchanged views on the importance of the Global South, which encompasses developing countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, as well as cooperation measures, the international situation, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. As the strategic position of the Global South is strengthening under the geopolitical transformation, including the intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition, the war in Ukraine, and the crisis in the Mid
UNJournal Jon Lee | President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahayan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 29, reaffirming the UAE's pledge to invest USD 30 billion (approx. KRW 40 trillion) in Korea. Korea and the UAE signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on the occasion of the summit. The UAE is the first Arab country to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Korea. The presidential office said that the summit confirmed the achievements of the UAE's sovereign wealth fund's $30 billion investment pledge. “Currently
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Yoon Suk-yeol hosted a dinner in Seoul on May 26 to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, Chinese Premier Li Chang, and other delegations from the three countries to the 9th Trilateral Summit. The dinner's performances and exhibits focused on the theme of “exchanges and harmony among the three countries” and featured cultural artists from Korea, Japan, and China. The welcome dinner harmoniously showcased the cultural commonalities of the three countries, which have a long history of interaction, and the individuality of each country that has blossomed f
UNJournal Jon Lee | The Embassy of Nepal and Nepal Tourism Board, in collaboration with the Dongguk University, co-hosted a seminar on Buddhism in Nepal titled "Historicity and Practice of Buddhism in Nepal" at Dongguk University in Seoul on May 24, 2024. The seminar, which was organized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Nepal-Korea diplomatic relations and the 2568 Buddha Jayanti and supported by the International Cultural Properties Strategy Center (ICPSC), aimed at sharing Nepal's role in promoting and nurturing Buddhism, and developing Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the e