By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul held a luncheon meeting in Seoul with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia, H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, who is visiting Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries on May 23.

The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations, cooperation in key sectors, cooperation on the international stage, and regional affairs. Korea and Gambia established diplomatic relations on April 21, 1965.

The Gambian delegation included Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education.

Both Foreign Ministers appreciated the close cooperation between Korea and The Gambia since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1965, particularly in areas such as high-level exchanges, development cooperation, agriculture and peacebuilding. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two Foreign Ministers exchanged congratulatory letters reflecting on the past achievements and expressing hopes for continued partnership in next 60 years.

Minister Tangara’s visit to Korea marked his seventh since his first in 2010. Minister Cho expressed appreciation for Minister Tangara’s enduring interest in and support for Korea and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation not only at the bilateral level but also in multilateral settings.

Minister Tangara highlighted his longstanding friendship with Minister Cho dating back to his ambassadorship to the United Nations in 2016. He acknowledged Korea’s pivotal role in The Gambia’s democratic transition and reaffirmed The Gambia’s steadfast support for Korea.

The Gambian side underscored the importance of capacity-building, including vocational training, for national development. It expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation with Korea in areas such as the establishment of vocational training centers, curriculum development, and industry-academia linkages.

Minister Cho expressed appreciation for The Gambia's participation in the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit, which Minister Tangara attended as the head of the Gambian delegation. He noted that the Summit marked a significant step forward in Korea-Africa relations and expressed hope that follow-up actions will lead to deeper cooperation with The Gambia in areas such as economy and development.