National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik on Wednesday invited ambassadors and envoys of 11 African nations -- Angola, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia -- to a luncheon to discuss relations with South Korea and support for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2025 Korea summit.
Woo, noting South Korea's established diplomatic relations with 54 African member states of the United Nations, expressed his commitment to further strengthening the country's cooperation with Africa.
"The National Assembly will lead the way in deepening South Korea's ties with your countries," Woo was quoted as having told the ambassadors, according to the speaker's office.
Speaking with the ambassadors, Woo asked for the 11 countries' interest in and support for a successful APEC summit slated for November in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
Woo also asked for solidarity with South Korean cities and counties battling wildfires that caused dozens of casualties, including 24 deaths at the time of writing.
Deputy speakers Rep. Joo Ho-young of the People Power Party and Lee Hack-young of the Democratic Party of Korea also attended the luncheon.
arin@heraldcorp.com
