1. Foreign Minister Park Jin, who was attending a UN General Assembly session from September 18 (Mon.) to 23 (Sat.), met bilaterally with the Vice President of Uganda and the Foreign Ministers of Gambia, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso.

2. On the afternoon of September 22 (Fri.), during his meeting with Jessica Alupo, Vice President of Uganda, at the UN headquarters (New York), Foreign Minister Park requested Uganda’s support for Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan and discussed with the Vice President ways to strengthen bilateral relations.

3. Foreign Minister Park and Vice President Alupo highly appreciated the recent active high-level exchanges between the two countries and agreed to expand substantive cooperation in various fields, including agriculture, health, development cooperation, economy and energy, as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

4. Foreign Minister Park introduced Korea’s vision to build a mutually beneficial, sustainable and long-lasting relationship with Africa as a “global pivotal state.” He explained Korea’s plan to hold the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit under this vision and invited Ugandan President Museveni to the summit.

5. On the morning of September 23 (Sat.), Foreign Minister Park met with Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara. The two Foreign Ministers noted Korea’s special role as the chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in 2017 in the establishment of democracy in Gambia after the latter’s presidential election in 2016. They appreciated the ongoing development of the friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries ever since.

6. The two Foreign Ministers welcomed the active high-level exchanges between the two countries of late. They agreed to extend this momentum and promote substantive bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, such as agriculture, development cooperation and manufacturing. Foreign Minister Park invited the President of Gambia to the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit.

7. On the morning of September 21 (Thurs.), during his meeting with Olivia Ragnaghnewendé Rouamba, Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso, Foreign Minister Park requested Burkina Faso’s support for Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan and exchanged opinions on measures to enhance substantive cooperation between the two countries. Foreign Minister Park expressed deep concern over the terrorist attacks in the Sahel and the resulting civilian casualties, stating that the Korean government, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, will provide necessary support for the countries in the region in their response to terrorism and their economic and social recovery. Foreign Minister Rouamba appreciated Korea’s role in supporting the Sahelian countries and requested further collaboration to promote peace and security in the region.

8. On the evening of September 18 (Mon.), Foreign Minister Park met with Timothy Musa Kabba,  Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone. They discussed UN Security Council-related activities as well as ways to improve mutual collaboration between the two countries during the dinner for the foreign ministers from the non-permanent members of the Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.

9. These meetings, which came after Foreign Minister Park’s visit to three African countries (Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia) in August, were held under the Korean government’s vision to strengthen diplomacy with Africa. As such, they are seen to have served as an opportunity to secure cooperation with African countries ahead of the upcoming 2024 Korea-Africa Summit and Korea’s non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.