S. Korea vows to build 'mutually beneficial' partnership with Africa in critical minerals

김승연 / 2025-02-05 16:39:53

S Korea-Africa-critical minerals

▲ Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun (2nd from R) speaks during the first South Korea-Africa dialogue on critical minerals, in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 4, 2025, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Africa-critical minerals

S. Korea vows to build 'mutually beneficial' partnership with Africa in critical minerals

SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- A senior South Korean official has highlighted the country's commitment to building "mutually beneficial" partnerships in the critical minerals sector with African nations, voicing hope for enhanced cooperation in the area, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun made the remark in the inaugural critical minerals dialogue with African partners in Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday (local time), the ministry said in a release.

South Korea and 48 African countries agreed to launch the dialogue platform during their first-ever summit hosted by Seoul in June last year.

The latest talks took place on the margins of the Mining Indaba, a major mining investment event in Africa, running from Monday through Thursday.

At the talks, Kang described mutual trust as the most important element in building partnerships in critical minerals.

Kang went on to emphasize that "South Korea is committed to fostering long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships" with African nations in related fields, the ministry said.

Participants representing African countries expressed hope for South Korea to boost investment in their region, noting Seoul's strengths in mining exploration and extraction technologies that could help spur the region's economic growth.

More than 100 participants were present at the meeting, including government and industry officials from 11 countries, including South Korea, Algeria, the Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia, among others.

(END)