Addis Ababa, 11 July 2019: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, together with Commissioner of Trade and Industry, Amb. Albert Muchanga, Commissioner of Political Affairs Minata Cessouma and Commissioner of Social Affairs Amira Elfadil, held talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Dr. Kang Kyung-Wha and her delegation, at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Abeba today.

Chairperson Faki thanked the Minister for choosing to visit the Commission as her first point of call on the African continent since assuming the foreign ministry portfolio. The Chairperson also congratulated the Minister on her appointment, acknowledging her as a longstanding partner and friend to Africa in her previous roles.

The Chairperson briefed the Minister on the historic launch of the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area following the just concluded Extraordinary Summit in Niamey, as a vital mechanism for the economic integration of the Continent and its trading partners, in line with the vision of Agenda 2063.

Minister Kang commended the African Union Commission’s significant strides, including the ACFTA, towards achieving the objectives of Agenda 2063.

The two Principals agreed to further expand existing cooperation between the Republic of Korea and AU in the areas of Trade and Industry, Youth and Women empowerment and Peace and Security. They also signed two Memoranda of Understanding, one in support of the AU Commission flagship Youth programme, and another on Peace and Security.

Minister Kang conveyed the importance the Republic of Korea accords to Africa, and expressed her country’s wish to further develop its partnership with the Continent. The meeting also touched on the the preparation ahead of the Korea-Africa Forum to be held in Seoul in 2021.

Minister Kang also took the opportunity to brief the Chairperson on recent developments on the Korean peninsula.

Chairperson Faki commended the progress made thus far towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, in particular the political and diplomatic efforts of the Republic of Korea in this regard. The Chairperson also reiterated the AU’s commitment to the principles on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as a key tenet for the maintenance of international peace and security.