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Participants in the fifth Seoul Dialogue on Africa pose at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Korea-Africa Foundation

Seoul Dialogue on Africa seeks mutual cooperation in technology, healthcare, among others

By Kang Seung-woo

The fifth Seoul Dialogue on Africa was held, Wednesday, during which experts explored ways to seek co-prosperity between Korea and Africa.

The dialogue, co-hosted by the Korea-Africa Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was launched in 2018, becoming an annual international conference seeking to gather policy proposals toward building a strategic partnership between Korea and Africa. In addition, the forum helps facilitate research on Africa in Korea by strengthening networks between scholars, researchers and various other stakeholders from both sides.

"The objective of the Seoul Dialogue on Africa ― which looks for ways to seek the co-prosperity of Korea and Africa through the dialogue of global experts on Africa ― is aligned to the vision of the foundation," Lyeo Woon-ki, the president of the foundation, said in his opening remarks.

Lyeo said that the dialogue discussed the importance of mutual solidarity and mutual multilateral cooperation of the international community to respond effectively to global issues such as the pandemic and climate change over the past two years.

"Two years after the pandemic swept the world, the global vaccination rate has reached 71 percent and we are entering a new phase. Now is the time to prepare for other uncertainties while living with the coronavirus and ultimately prepare to leap into a new era," he said.

Lyeo Woon-ki, the president of the Korea-Africa Foundation, delivers an opening speech during the Seoul Dialogue on Africa at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Korea-Africa Foundation

"Against this backdrop, at the fifth Seoul Dialogue on Africa this year, experts on Africa from home and overseas will share their opinions on the theme of resilience and make a leap forward in key strategic areas for the post-crisis era," he said.

The dialogue came as the Korean government is seeking to beef up its cooperation with Africa.

Describing Africa as a land of new opportunities, President Yoon Suk-yeol promised to push for a Korea-Africa free trade agreement following his summit with Kenyan President William Ruto last month.

As part of efforts to accelerate the FTA push, Yoon said South Korea will invite the leaders of African nations for a special summit in Korea in 2024.

Yoon also said the country will expand official development assistance (ODA) to Africa.

"The Korean government's active approach toward Africa is based on the recognition that the African continent is a key partner for solving the common problems of mankind and for future development," Lyeo said.

"In order for Africa, the world's the youngest continent, where 70 percent of its population is under the age of 30, to play a leading role in the development of the world, Korea should move forward toward a constructive future hand in hand with Africa with the spirit of co-prosperity. I hope that the Seoul Dialogue on Africa will serve as a venue for a more prosperous and green future of Korea-Africa relations in the post-crisis era."

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who delivered a special keynote speech at the dialogue, expressed hope that the forum will provide a valuable opportunity to explore the possibility of cooperation between Korea and Africa and for a leap forward together.

"When it comes to COVID-19, Africa was among the hardest hit due to the economic vulnerabilities and limited social protection systems…. in this regard, I highly commend the Seoul Dialogue on Africa for establishing itself as the premier platform for deeper understanding and sheltering partnership between Korea and countries of Africa," Ban said.

Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations secretary-general, delivers a special keynote speech during the fifth Seoul Dialogue on Africa, at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Korea-Africa Foundation

The fifth edition of the Africa dialogue focused on four key strategic areas as emerging industries in the post-crisis era: fintech and platform economy, green energy, healthcare and infrastructure.

The first session on fintech looked at Africa's ever-changing digital economy and finance eco-system and searched for a plan for Korea-Africa cooperation, while the Korean government shared its strategy on carbon neutrality and discussed the importance of international cooperation.

The third and fourth sessions analyzed technology and industry trends for the healthcare sector and the importance of infrastructure and the major considerations, including the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, respectively.

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