Ethiopia, South Korea pledge to boost historical ties with diversified engagements

Addis Ababa, May 11, 2022 (FBC) – The Director-General of the Middle East, Asia, and Pacific at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gebeyehu Ganga (PhD.), discussed on Monday with Kang Seoul-hee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ethiopia about bilateral, regional, and global issues.

Ambassador Gebeyehu thanked the people and government of South Korea for friendship and development partnership and stressed the importance of further strengthening the political understanding through holding joint ministerial commissions and expanding the relations in trade and investment.

The two sides agreed to work together to establish a joint ministerial commission and finalize the bilateral investment promotion and protection draft agreement besides setting up an Ethiopian-Korean Friendship Society – an umbrella association that will further enhance people-to-people ties.

Ambassador Gebeyehu explained the commitment and readiness of the Ethiopian government to find peaceful solutions by taking confidence-building measures, including the recent humanitarian truce and improving humanitarian access and delivery of humanitarian assistance to all people in need of aid, including those in Tigray.

The Korean Ambassador acknowledged the efforts of the Ethiopian government and hoped that the Ethiopian government would find a peaceful solution to the current situation and ensure lasting peace and stability in the country.

He recalled that the Korean government has provided one million USD for humanitarian aid and reaffirmed the readiness of the Korean government to consider the provision of further financial contributions in this regard.

The two sides also reiterated the contribution of Ethiopian peacekeepers to Korea as a historical milestone underscoring the need to enhance the relations in political, economic, and development cooperation areas, icluding people to people ties.

Ambassador Kang Seoul-hee noted that the largest South Korean development cooperation in Africa is operating in Ethiopia, which demonstrates commitment to further cementing historical ties with Ethiopia.

The Ambassadors exchanged views on regional issues, including the GERD and other global matters pledging to work together on issues of common interest in multilateral forums.

By Wondesen Aregahegn