FM Gedu Confers with Finnish, South Korean Counterparts

Addis Ababa ENA July 10/2019 Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew held discussions today with Foreign Ministers of Finland and South Korea, Pekka Haavisto and Kang Kyung-wha, respectively.

Gedu and Kang discussed ways of further deepening bilateral relations between Ethiopia and South Korea.

"Bilaterally, we have agreed to enhance our relations to a strategic level of cooperation and to establish a joint ministerial commission," Gedu said.

He added that both countries reached consensus to boost up trade and investment beyond cooperation in science and technology.

Foreign Minister Kang said on her part that "we had comprehensive discussion about how to further deepen our ties of cooperation in the political and economic fields as well as people-to-people relations."

According to her, the two sides agreed to make efforts in promoting high-level exchanges and heightening trade and investment.

“I reaffirm Korea's commitment to support economic and social development of Ethiopia through our official development assistance program in line with Ethiopia’s GTP II,” Kang said.

The ministers noted that the partnership between Ethiopia and South Korea has seen much progress since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1963.

In a related development, Foreign Minister Gedu and Finnish Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto consulted on bilateral relations of the countries, and peace and security in the Horn of Africa, particularly the role of Ethiopia and AU in securing peace in the region.

Haavisto expressed Finland’s commitment to full fledged support for the reform in Ethiopia.