SEOUL, KOREA – His Majesty the King has urged Korea to support the African continent in its call for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
The host, South Korea President
Yoon Suk Yeol congratulates His Majesty
King Mswati lll after delivering his
address while other leaders look on.
The African Union (AU) adopted this call, known as the Ezulwini Consensus, at a meeting in Ezulwini back in 2005. The King noted that by continuing to strengthen the relationship between Africa and Korea, we are building another pillar of solidarity to solve our common challenges.
His Majesty in conversation with
the President of Togo, Faure Essozimna
Gnassingbe Eyadema, soon after the
photo shoot.
“Africa has shown her unity by supporting the Republic of Korea for its non-permanent seat as a member of the United Nations Security Council. We hope they will in turn advocate the call by the African continent to be given a voice as per the Ezulwini Consensus of 2005,” he urged.
South Korea has been elected a Non Permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for the 2024–25 term. The King said the AU Agenda 2063 envisions a unified, powerful Africa that influences the world and sees Korea and other overseas partners in a position to help create robust healthcare systems, improve education, and promote equitable economic growth.
His Majesty joined by the President
of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang
Mbasogo, on arrival for the photo
session.
“Eswatini emphasises fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. We know education and technology underpin modern economies and, therefore, encourage collaborations that improve education, technology transfer, research and development, plus capacity building to bridge the digital gap and prepare our children for a globalised future,” he said.
The summit, described as the largest multilateral summit hosted by the current Korean administration, seeks to bolster economic ties with Africa, which is a massive consumer market with a population of 1.49 billion and a GDP of $3.4 trillion.
Currently, South Korea’s trade with Africa only accounts for 1.9 percent of the nation’s total trade. Africa’s mass consumer market and abundant resources have drawn attention from South Korea, a major energy importer and home to the world’s leading chipmakers and battery producers. It is expected that a memorandum of understanding on the “Key Minerals Cooperation Partnership” will be signed to strengthen related cooperation.
The host President of South Korea
Yoon Suk Yeol addressing the African
leaders at the inaugural gathering.
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who is the current President of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, will issue a joint statement at the end of the summit. Attending the Korea-Africa Summit are delegations from 48 African nations, including 25 heads of state. The main session was held yesterday and will be followed by a business summit focused on trade and investment on Wednesday.
