Upon arriving Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, Park Jin expressed his country’s interest to continue cooperating in key areas to elevate the multifaceted, strategic partnership between the two countries through bilateral and multilateral frameworks on issues of mutual interest.
He will be in Ethiopia for a three-day official visit, according to the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. During his meeting with deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, this morning Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Park Jin indicated that Ethiopia is a gateway to Africa.
The two sides have discussed ways of further strengthening cooperation between the countries in bilateral and multilateral venues, according to the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
“During the talks, Demeke told FM Jin, Ethio-South Korean friendship is forged by blood. He said, they have agreed to further consolidate the longstanding diplomatic relations in the areas of trade, investment and development cooperation for the benefit of respective peoples. We have also reaffirmed to expedite our partnership on multilateral fora on issues of mutual interest,” Mr. Demeke added.
He also expressed the gratitude of the People and Government of Ethiopia to the People and Government of South Korea for choosing Ethiopia as one of the critical priority development partners in Africa, according to the information from the Ministry.
It is also stated that Mr. Demeke has also congratulated the Republic of Korea for being elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and pledged to work closely on matters of mutual interest and concerns affecting the African Continent, in general and the Horn of Africa, in particular.
“Foreign Minister Park Jin, on his part, expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for the warm welcome and hospitality. He peculiarly echoed the fact that Ethiopia is a gateway to Africa.”
“After the bilateral talks the high-ranking officials also gave a joint press conference to the media corps. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the commencement of formal diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and the East Asian country,” the Ministry said.
The South Korean Foreign Minister will later today meet with more senior officials of the Ethiopian Government to discuss ways of further strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries, according to the information from the Ministry.
South Korean Foreign Minister visit to Addis Ababa came a few days after the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, visited the east African country.