IPNEWS: His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia and his delegation engaged in bilateral discussions with His Excellency Yool Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of South Korea, in Seoul, on the sidelines of the Korea-Africa Summit 2024.
President Yeol extended a warm welcome to President Boakai and congratulated him on assuming the presidency of Liberia. He expressed gratitude for Liberia’s historical support during the Korean War, emphasizing the enduring 60-year relationship between the two nations.
President Boakai conveyed his appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit and reiterated Liberia’s unwavering commitment to deepening its partnership with Korea.
The Liberian Leader outlined the multifaceted challenges faced by Liberia, encompassing various sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, human resource development, renewable energy, education, technology, fisheries, policy development, and port construction. He requested Korea’s support and partnership in addressing these challenges.
In response, President Yeol made the following assurances in leveraging partnerships in a range of areas covering the development of roads and infrastructure, contingent upon a detailed proposal; the provision of scholarships for Liberian students seeking to pursue studies in various disciplines in Korea; and lending assistance in advancing agricultural development in Liberia, encompassing the transfer of agricultural technologies and a key focus on rice production.
The Korean Leader also gave his countryโs commitment to supporting the enhancement of Liberia’s fisheries sector; his willingness to consider support for Liberia’s renewable energy development; and his support for the transfer of digital capabilities and technologies to Liberia.
President Yeol conveyed Korea’s unwavering commitment to aiding and partnering with Liberia in realizing its development objectives and surmounting its current challenges, ultimately contributing to the well-being of the Liberian populace.
Concluding, the Korean Leader assured President Boakai that Korea will efficiently contribute to the full implementation of the Governmentโs Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism (ARREST) Agenda and that he stands ready to support the country overcome the current challenges and improve the lives of the Liberian people.
Officials who accompanied the Liberian leader during the bilateral meeting were the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Dean of the Presidentโs Cabinet, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of National Defense, Geraldine Janet George, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Alexander Nuetah, and the Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah.
SEE FULL TEXT OF PRES. BOAKAIโs SPEECH By His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of The Republic of Liberia at the Opening of the 2024 Korea – Africa Summit. Seoul, South Koreaย
Tuesday, 4 June, 2024
Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Korean Republic, esteemed fellow Heads of State and Representatives of Government, Business Leaders, Civil Society Organizations, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It gives me great pleasure to join you at this momentous and auspicious gathering bringing together leaders of the African continent and their South Korean counterparts in a historic summit that will potentially impact about 20% of the world’s population.
It is an honor to join my colleagues in thanking the government and people of the Republic of Korea for hosting this summit and for extending to us the wonderful hospitality the Korean people are known for. The Republic of Korea has been a true friend and partner, one that we can learn from, and has so much to offer Africa in the continent’s quest for a transformative future.
As we wait with bated breath about the outcome of the 2024 Korea – Africa Summit, the first of its kind, the theme of this gathering – “The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity” – must remind us that the future we want for our people and the world cannot just be hoped for or dreamed of or even guaranteed; it is one only achieved through concerted and deliberate actions.
The twin processes of globalization and technological advancement have spurred growth and economic development globally. But while they both have ushered the twenty-first century with remarkable feats of human development, such impact on the world populations, especially in Africa, has been unequal. This is why “shared growth” as part of the theme of this summit should express our collective desire that growth must come with development, prosperity must be inclusive to benefit all people, and that dividends of development should not be the exclusive preserve for a privileged few.
Shared growth and a shared future must also be pursued in tandem with Agenda 2063, the pan-African effort to promote collective prosperity, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the World Sustainable Development Goals.
Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
We seek an outcome from this summit that allows the application of what we have collectively been endowed with to increase prosperity and improve the livelihoods of our people. However, we must equally recognize that sustainability should undergird the drive for development. Resources are not infinite; therefore, the judicious use or exploitation of our collective natural wealth must always be considered in maintaining a sustainable earth for future generations.
This means achieving a sustainable future by accepting options or alternatives that do not leave the earth depleted but also safeguard the environment. As one of the custodians of the equatorial rainforest, Liberia intends to promote a sustainable future by leveraging this natural asset to contribute to the fight against climate change.
Excellencies, those attending this summit represent about a fifth of the world’s population, and as a community, we have a critical mass in solidarity that should enable us to confront and address the challenges facing our common world. In the context of South-south cooperation, the nations gathered here have in many respects shared experiences and a common objective to improve the social and economic conditions of their populations. This summit should further foster SouthยญSouth cooperation to address mutual developmental issues in the global south. No nation can address the myriad of complex global challenges alone.
It is by standing together in solidarity that we can we bring our collective efforts to bear tackling climate change, disease, hunger, poverty, and the many problems that plague us collectively.
As we look forward to the deliberations of this first and historic Korea – Africa Summit, we must remember that the future is not guaranteed; we must determine it by deliberately taking actions that will leverage our potential to achieve common goals and foster a better future for our people, a transformed, equitable and sustainable future. We can achieve this in firm partnership with the proud people of Korea who have taught us the importance of human capital – their greatest resource – in transforming the future of any nation.
Thank you.
