Guinea–South Korea relations
Guinea–South Korea relations refer to the bilateral relations between Guinea, a country in West Africa, and South Korea, a country in East Asia.
Political exchanges
After gaining independence in 1958, Guinea received diplomatic recognition from both North Korea and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). However, Guinea's first president, Ahmed Sékou Touré, pursued a policy of "active neutralism" and prioritized relations with the Eastern Bloc and North Korea in the development of Guinea's foreign relations. Guinea did not immediately establish diplomatic relations with South Korea. It therefore supported North Korea and opposed South Korea in international organizations such as the Non-Aligned Movement. Nevertheless, Guinea maintained some official exchanges with South Korea and also sent a delegation to participate in the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul.
On 28 August 2006, Guinea and South Korea formally established diplomatic relations. Since then, the relations between the two countries have developed in a friendly manner. On 16 June 2011, South Korea's ambassador for energy and resources, Kim Eun-seok, led a joint private-official mission to Guinea and was received by President Alpha Condé. The two countries discussed resource development and infrastructure construction, exchanging views on cooperation in agriculture, transportation, and other sectors. Alpha Condé also stated that the Guinean government would establish an embassy in South Korea.
In May 2012, Guinea participated in the Expo 2012 held in Yeosu, South Korea. Alpha Condé also led a delegation to South Korea and was received by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. The two governments reached agreements on strengthening cooperation and on the development of minerals and infrastructure.
See also
- Foreign relations of Guinea
- Foreign relations of South Korea
References
South Korea Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea