First Bilateral Summit Held Immediately After Arrival in Canada for G7 Summit
Presidents of Both Countries Exchange Views on Regional Affairs and Agree to Cooperate for International Peace
President Lee Jaemyung, who is visiting Kananaskis, Canada to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit, held a summit meeting with President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on the afternoon of June 16 (local time).
The Presidential Office stated on this day, "President Lee noted that South Korea and South Africa, which participated in the Korean War, have strengthened cooperation in various fields since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. He proposed that the two countries continue to closely cooperate to further enhance substantive cooperation in all areas, including trade, investment, and energy." In response, President Ramaphosa congratulated South Korea on the inauguration of its new government, described South Korea and South Africa as valuable partners sharing democracy, and expressed his hope that the two countries will further strengthen cooperation in various fields such as politics and the economy.
The Presidential Office also reported that President Lee assessed South Africa as the largest economic power in Africa and as a gateway for South Korea's entry into the continent. He requested the South African government's interest and support for Korean companies operating in various sectors such as energy and manufacturing in South Africa. President Ramaphosa responded by stating that Korean companies, with their outstanding technological capabilities, are making significant contributions to job creation and industrial development in South Africa, and expressed his hope that investment and expansion by Korean companies would further increase. President Ramaphosa also emphasized the importance of education for national development and expressed his hope for cooperation with South Korea in the fields of education and technical training.
The two presidents exchanged views on regional situations such as the Korean Peninsula and Africa, and agreed to cooperate to promote international peace. Meanwhile, President Lee highly praised South Africa for becoming the first African country to assume the presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) and wished for the successful hosting of the summit in November. In response, President Ramaphosa expressed his hope that the two countries will continue to closely cooperate in multilateral forums, including the G20, and said he looks forward to meeting President Lee Jaemyung in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the G20 summit will be held in November.
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