FM Kim Sung-Hwan’s Visit to Algeria

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan visited Algeria on February 8-9. During the visit, he had a meeting with his Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci, in which the two sides agreed to promote cooperation in industrial, development, nuclear and various other sectors as well as technology transfer on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the forging of the Korea-Algeria strategic partnership this year. To this end, the two countries agreed to work actively to establish a cutting-edge technology center in Africa, raise funds for industrial cooperation, conclude and sign an agreement on nuclear cooperation, and cooperate in agriculture and fisheries, all of which have been under consultation between relevant agencies of the two countries. Taking note of the rapid development of Korea-Algeria ties despite a short history of diplomatic relations (21 years), Minister Kim spoke of the Korean government’s willingness to share with Algeria and other African countries its economic experience of developing into a donor country from one of the poorest ones. Minister Medelci touched upon the Algerian government’s intent to pursue sustainable-development and industrial-diversification policies under its 3rd five-year economic development plan set in 2010, and voiced hope for stronger economic cooperation between the two countries and participation of Korean enterprises in the process. Minister Kim paid a courtesy call on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to discuss ways for boosting the strategic partnership and expanding bilateral cooperation, and to exchange views on issues related with the Korean peninsula as well as recent developments in Egypt and the overall Middle Eastern region. Minister Kim’s activities during the visit were part of efforts to realize “total and complex diplomacy,” one of the Foreign Ministry’s priority tasks for this year.