The 2nd Korea-Africa Forum was held at Seoul’s Lotte Hotel on November 24, co-hosted by the Korean government and African Union (AU). AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping, foreign ministers from 15 countries, including chair countries of African communities representing the 53 African states, and other ministerial-level officials, some 120 in total, attended this Forum.

The ministerial meeting in the morning discussed the current status of Korea-Africa cooperation and the direction of their partnership as well as their cooperation in development and green growth, followed by the approval of “The 2nd Korea-Africa Forum Seoul Declaration 2009” and the annexed “Framework for Korea-Africa Development Cooperation 2009-2012” and “Korea-Africa Green Growth Initiative 2009-2012” as the concluding documents. 

Ranking officials, including foreign ministers of Korea and participating African countries, and academic and business leaders made presentations and had discussions in the open session held under the themes of “Korea-Africa Cooperation Aimed at Attaining Common Prosperity and Millennium Development Goals” and “Korea-Africa Green-Growth Partnership” with some 750-strong audience including other delegates to the Forum.

In the concluding document adopted at the closing ceremony of the Forum, the Korean government pledged to double its official development assistance (ODA) to Africa by 2012, compared to that in 2008, and announced plans to invite 5,000 industrial trainees from Africa, while dispatching more than 1,000 aid workers to the continent by 2012.

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan had bilateral meetings with African ministers on the sidelines of the Forum to consult on ways to promote bilateral relations and work together on the international stage as well as the regional situation.

In the evening, a dinner was held for some 160 figures, including the African delegates, Korea’s academic and business leaders, civilian NGO officials and other Africa-related figures. A tour of the Gumi Industrial Complex and Saemaul Museum on November 25 wrapped up the 2nd Korea-Africa Forum. The third Forum will be held in three years.