SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – At the opening of the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai delivered a compelling address, emphasizing the critical importance of shared growth, sustainability, and solidarity in achieving a transformative future for both Africa and South Korea.
“Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Korean Republic, esteemed fellow Heads of State and Representatives of Government, Business Leaders, Civil Society Organizations, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to join you at this momentous and auspicious gathering,” President Boakai began, setting a tone of mutual respect and optimism.
Highlighting the significance of the summit, President Boakai expressed gratitude to the Republic of Korea for its hospitality and partnership. He noted that the summit brings together leaders representing about 20% of the world’s population, emphasizing the potential impact of their collective efforts. “The Republic of Korea has been a true friend and partner, one that we can learn from, and has so much to offer Africa in the continent’s quest for a transformative future,” Boakai stated.
The theme of the summit, “The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity,” was a focal point in President Boakai’s speech. He stressed that the future envisioned for the world cannot be achieved passively but requires deliberate and concerted actions. “The future we want for our people and the world cannot just be hoped for or dreamed of or even guaranteed; it is one only achieved through concerted and deliberate actions,” he asserted.
President Boakai addressed the uneven impacts of globalization and technological advancements, particularly in Africa. He argued that shared growth must encompass inclusive development and prosperity for all, rather than benefiting only a privileged few. “This is why ‘shared growth’ as part of the theme of this summit should express our collective desire that growth must come with development, prosperity must be inclusive to benefit all people,” he said.
In alignment with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, President Boakai called for outcomes from the summit that would improve livelihoods and promote prosperity while ensuring sustainability. “Resources are not infinite; therefore, the judicious use or exploitation of our collective natural wealth must always be considered in maintaining a sustainable earth for future generations,” he noted.
Liberia, as a custodian of the equatorial rainforest, intends to leverage this natural asset in the fight against climate change, President Boakai revealed. “Achieving a sustainable future by accepting options or alternatives that do not leave the earth depleted but also safeguard the environment,” he emphasized.
Solidarity among the nations represented at the summit is crucial in addressing global challenges, according to President Boakai. He highlighted the importance of South-South cooperation in tackling common developmental issues. “In the context of South-South cooperation, the nations gathered here have in many respects shared experiences and a common objective to improve the social and economic conditions of their populations,” Boakai stated.
President Boakai underscored that collective efforts are essential in confronting climate change, disease, hunger, poverty, and other global issues. “No nation can address the myriad of complex global challenges alone,” he asserted. “It is by standing together in solidarity that we can bring our collective efforts to bear.”
As the summit’s deliberations began, President Boakai reminded attendees that the future is not guaranteed but must be shaped through intentional actions. “We must determine it by deliberately taking actions that will leverage our potential to achieve common goals and foster a better future for our people, a transformed, equitable, and sustainable future,” he concluded. He praised Korea’s example in valuing human capital as a crucial resource for national transformation.
President Boakai’s speech set a hopeful and determined tone for the summit, emphasizing the importance of partnership, shared growth, and sustainable development in creating a brighter future for both Africa and Korea.
