First Korea-Africa Forum Sketches Mutual Growth

President Roh Moo-hyun’s schedule with visiting dignitaries on Wednesday read like a map of the African continent: Ghana, Benin, Tanzania and the Republic of Congo.

Roh greeted leaders of the four African countries at the Cheong Wa Dae, and also held one-on-one talks with each of them. The African presidents are in Seoul for the inaugural Korea-Africa Forum, an effort to bolster cooperation on trade, economy and culture between the two sides.

President Roh Moo-hyun, Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and Ghana President John Agyekum Kufuor attend a banquet with the participants of the first Korea-Africa Forum at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday./Yonhap

First, the Korean leader met with President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo. Roh promised more aid to the central African nation as part of Korea’s official Development Assistance program.

During a visit to Nigeria in March, Roh announced that Seoul would triple its overall aid to African nations to US$100 million by 2008. The day also witnessed the signing of an Investment Guarantee Agreement between Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and his African counterparts.

Later came a summit with Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, in which the two countries sought closer cooperation. In the early evening, Roh sat down with President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and President Boni Yayi of Benin.

Since Roh’s trip to three northern African nations earlier this year, Seoul has been engaged in efforts to secure energy agreements with the African region.

Last on the Korean leader’s schedule was a dinner with participants at the forum. Roh’s Africa trip earlier this year was the first for a Korean president in 24 years.

Cheong Wa Dae is confident that the assistance will boost Korea’s relations with nations in Africa, the world’s second largest and the second most populous continent after Asia.

Arirang News