WE, the Ministers and Heads of Delegations representing the African continent, the African Union (AU) and its Institutions and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, meet in Seoul, Korea, on 17 October 2012 for the Third Korea-Africa Forum,

RECALLING the Constitutive Act of the AU of 2000 and the Decision of the 15th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council EX.CL/Dec 512 (XV), adopted in Sirte, Libya, in June 2009, which expressed support for the Korea-Africa partnership,

NOTING that the Korea-Africa Forum was launched in 2006, the “Seoul Declaration of the Second Korea-Africa Forum 2009” has provided a comprehensive guide for the building of a mutually beneficial partnership between Korea and Africa based on the principles of mutual trust, sovereign equality, integrity and inter-dependence and that the cooperation between the two sides has developed steadily within the framework of the Declaration,

ACKNOWLEDGING the role of industries in improving productivity, competitiveness and promoting economic transformation and diversification across the continent,

WELCOMING the positive changes taking place in the political, economic and social environment of Africa and ACKNOWLEDGING the AU’s efforts and achievements in the areas of peace and security, economic development and gender equality and women’s empowerment amongst others on the continent,

HAVING AGREED that the Korea-Africa partnership presents a suitable framework for collective dialogue and complementary potential and know-how that should lead to positive outcomes and active implementation based on equality, mutual respect and interests,

CALLING for further efforts by both sides to strengthen existing ties and pursue mutual interests in common areas of understanding and respect, including cooperation in various multilateral fora,

DECLARE as follows:

1. We reaffirm that the Principles of Partnership agreed upon in the Seoul Declaration of the Second Korea-Africa Forum 2009 shall apply to the Seoul Declaration of the Third Korea-Africa Forum 2012.
   
   
2. We acknowledge that the Second Korea-Africa Forum which was co-hosted by Korea and the AU has provided a momentum for the strengthening of the Korea-Africa partnership, and believe that both sides need to deepen the cooperation in a gradual way through concrete and practical measures.
   
   
3. We underscore the need for mutual awareness and understanding for the deepening of the Korea-Africa cooperative partnership, and agree that to this end, it would be of great value for both sides to focus on implementing such measures as promoting exchanges of human resources, sharing information and expanding channels of communication.
   
   
4. We agree to explore concrete ways to strengthen cooperation at the African continental level by actively engaging the AU, with the aim at enhancing our cooperation so as to significantly contribute to the development and integration of Africa.
   
   
5. We acknowledge that sustainable economic growth is essential for Africa’s development and agree to support the laying of the groundwork for growth.
   
   
6. We will continue to support the fight against poverty and efforts for sustainable development in Africa, by joining international efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We express our deep concern over the uncertain prospects for the realization of the MDGs in some regions and commit to strengthening cooperation in areas such as health, water and education to achieve the MDGs.
   
   
7. We share a common understanding that the post-2015 development framework should be complementary to the Millenium Development Goals(MDGs) and needs to be inclusive of economic, social, environmental aspects through the process of broad and participatory discussions that engage various stakeholders, and to be elaborated pursuant to the outcome document of the UNCSD (Rio+20). The development of such framework should not divert focus or effort from the achievement of the MDGs.
   
   
8. We support the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation adopted at the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in 2011 and will cooperate for the successful implementation of the Global Partnership.
   
   
9. We appreciate the Korean Government's efforts and contributions to increase the Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Africa as well as the various development cooperation projects implemented on site, and pledge to collaborate in exploring areas for cooperation that appropriately combine Korea's development experience and Africa's needs. We believe that this perspective constitutes a major element to strengthen South/South and Triangular Cooperation.
   
   
10. We recognize that Korea's development experience may be of great value in Africa’s development and commit to making joint efforts towards diversifying and expanding the areas where its experience could be shared.
    
    
11. We take note of the major development initiatives that have been adopted in recent years by the AU such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Accelerating Industrial Development in Africa (AIDA), Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan of Action(PMPA) and Boosting Intra-African Trade Plan of Action, and will cooperate for their effective implementation.
    
    
12. We note the importance of food security for poverty eradication and national development, and agree to reinforce cooperation in agricultural development and poverty reduction in Africa and express our commitment to support the continental, regional and sub-regional organisations in strengthening their capacity to achieve agricultural development and food security.
    
    
13. We reemphasize the importance of Africa's capacity building and technology transfer in order to achieve development goals, and agree to make joint efforts to actively share Korea’s experience and knowledge for developing human resources in the areas where its experience would make contributions.
    
    
14. We reaffirm our belief in the virtuous cycle between environment and economy as agreed in the Korea-Africa Green Growth Initiative 2009-2012, and note that the green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication was presented at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) in June 2012, as an important tool to achieve sustainable development, providing policy making options while not being a rigid set of rules. We reaffirm that policies for a green economy should be guided by and be in accordance with all the Rio principles, Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and contribute towards achieving relevant internationally agreed development goals including the MDGs.
    
    
15. We welcome Korea's initiative to increase ODA to support green growth in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication in African countries in accordance with their national priorities and circumstances. We envisage that the support for a green economy in the framework of the outcome document of the UNCSD(Rio+20), and the establishment of a green growth strategy will be expanded through international organizations such as the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
    
    
16. We acknowledge the importance of effective adaptation strategies curbing the negative impact of climate change on our environment. In this regard, we endeavour to undertake initiatives aimed at enhancing African capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change. Furthermore we support the outcomes of COP17/CMP7 and commit to working closely in preparation for COP18/CMP8, to be hosted in Doha, Qatar in December 2012.
    
    
17. We recognize Africa’s potential as demonstrated by its recent economic achievements and emphasize the importance of the AU initiative to boost trade and investment with a view to ensuring sustainable growth and economic transformation that, in turn, requires strengthening productive capacity through investment in infrastructure and institution building, as well as agriculture and rural development.
    
    
18. We commit to exert joint efforts to create a business friendly environment, to boost trade and investment between Korea and Africa, and to promote exchanges of business delegations, through such means as the hosting of investment fairs and sharing of business information, as well as setting up a joint Korea-Africa Chamber of Commerce.
    
    
19. We welcome the Korean Government’s expansion of duty-free and quota-free items for the 48 least developed countries, and explore ways to further expand trade relations with the Republic of Korea through the establishment of preferential market access arrangements with African countries.
    
    
20. We recognize that an effective Public-Private Partnership (PPP) can promote further investments and ensure sustainable development in Africa, and call on all stakeholders to deepen such partnerships.
    
    
21. We commit to make full use of existing dialogue channels, as well as further explore new areas of cooperation to enhance the partnership. We note the usefulness of the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Conference (KOAFEC), and the Korea-Africa Industry Cooperation Forum that have been helpful in strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two sides.
    
    
22. We also emphasize the need to technically and financially support the development of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), which constitutes the bulk of Africa’s economies and provide means of livelihood and employment for a large percentage of the African population.
    
    
23. We acknowledge Africa’s effort to achieve gender equality and agree to work with the AU to support the objectives of the African Women’s Decade (2010-2020).
    
    
24. We highlight the importance of public health service cooperation. In this regard, human resources and institutional capacity will be strengthened in order to effectively support and reinforce existing AU programmes.
    
    
25. We commit to promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people engagement aimed at enhancing a better understanding on both sides. Furthermore, we endeavour to strengthen communication strategies in order to popularise the partnership.
    
    
26. We reiterate our shared commitment to work towards the end of all conflicts in Africa and underscore our ardent wish for peace, which is a prerequisite for development, while supporting and promising to continue to contribute to the AU’s initiatives toward conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peace building and post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD).
    
    
27. We emphasize that while peace and security in Africa should be achieved mainly through Africa’s own efforts, we recognize Korea's support for both the international community's collaboration and Africa's endeavours towards peace and security, and pledge to enhance cooperation in the areas indicated.
    
    
28. We undertake to support capacity building initiatives within the AU to meet the increased demand for peace building and peace keeping in Africa. We also commend efforts undertaken by the AU towards countering the threat of terrorism, piracy, human and drugs trafficking, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and other transnational threats and seek to deepen cooperation in these initiatives.
    
    
29. We fully support the endeavours of the international community, particularly the AU and the UN, to promote international peace and security through the various disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control instruments in respect of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and conventional arms especially to address the increased threat posed by Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Africa.
    
    
30. We welcome the entry into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba).
    
    
31. We do recognize that the ‘Nuclear Security Summit’ held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in March 2012, has provided a valuable platform for a world free of nuclear weapons and reaffirm the importance of the voluntary efforts to abide and implement political commitments.
    
    
32. We acknowledge that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is essential for achieving peace and stability in Northeast Asia. Furthermore, we support the Republic of Korea’s continued efforts to reduce tension and to achieve peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.
    
    
33. The essential need for energy in the near future in the African continent requires a framework of committed cooperation with different parties among which is the Korean side, in the field of peaceful usage of nuclear energy where Korea has a noticeable edge. The same commitment is applied as well in the field of renewable energy development and generations.
    
    
34. We acknowledge that the follow-up mechanism suggested at the Second Korea-Africa Forum in 2009 continues to be a valid measure, and agree to strengthen and consolidate the Korea-Africa partnership, as follows:
    
    
    
    1. The Korea-Africa Forum will be held alternately in Korea and in Africa every three years so as to function as the comprehensive channel of cooperation between the two sides;
       
       
    2. Inter-sessional meetings at Senior Officials level will be held once a year to review the progress of cooperation projects, share information and seek areas of further collaboration. The venue for these meetings will be determined through consultation between the two sides;
       
       
    3. Coordination on the African side will be undertaken in synergy among the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), the African Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of Korea, the Commission of the African Union and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency(NPCA).
       
       
    4. Coordination on the Korean side will be undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
    
    
    
35. We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegations representing the African continent and the African Union Commission express our appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Korea for their warm reception and generous hospitality and for hosting the Third Korea-Africa Forum in Seoul, Republic of Korea on 17 October 2012.
    
    
36. We adopt the "Seoul Declaration of the Third Korea-Africa Forum 2012" and the "Action Plan of the Third Korea-Africa Forum 2013-2015" and commit to ensure their effective implementation.
    
    
37. We agree to hold the Fourth Forum in Africa in 2015.

DONE IN SEOUL ON 17 OCTOBER 2012