SEOUL: Around 200 people, including ministers, ambassadors, industry officials and experts, are attending an annual forum dedicated to strengthening the Republic of Korea’s cooperation with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that kicked off in Seoul on Monday, Yonhap news agency reported.
The 2024 Korea-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Future Cooperation Forum, is co-hosted by Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. This year’s forum, the 17th of its kind, focuses on discussions for substantive cooperation in boosting the economy, directly related to improving people’s livelihoods and fostering shared growth.
Officials from Cuba, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala and other nations are participating in the sessions in person to exchange views on expanding cooperation in the two-day forum. Notably, it marked the first time a Cuban delegation has visited Korea since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries earlier th
is year.
The Republic of Korea and Cuba announced the establishment of diplomatic ties in February, a significant development given Cuba’s longstanding “brotherly” relationship with North Korea.
“With the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba in February, Korea has now completed a diplomatic network with all 33 Latin American countries, making 2024 a new milestone in Korea-Latin America relations,” said Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during his opening remarks. Cho said that the two sides have evolved from a simple trade relationship involving raw materials and industrial goods to becoming cooperative partners in cutting-edge fields, such as the aerospace, hydrogen and defense industries.
Source: Emirates News Agency