Roh holds summit talks with four African leaders

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun held separate summit talks chiefly on economic cooperation Wednesday with his counterparts from four African countries -- the Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Ghana and Benin, Roh's office Cheong Wa Dae said.

Roh met with President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and President Boni Yayi of Benin, said the office.

"In a summit with Sassou Nguesso, Roh agreed to expand South Korea's development aid for the Republic of the Congo and asked for Sassou Nguesso's support for Korean firms seeking to participate in the African country's infrastructure construction projects," presidential spokesman Yoon Tae-young said.

"In response, the Congolese leader praised South Korea as his country's economic development model and expressed a wish to expand bilateral cooperation through the invitation of Korean experts to his country," Yoon said.

After the summit, the two leaders observed the signing of a bilateral investment guarantee agreement by their Cabinet ministers and attended a luncheon together at Cheong Wa Dae.

Sassou Nguesso is currently the chairman of the African Union.

In the following summit talks with the presidents of Tanzania, Ghana and Benin, Roh also confirmed his government's previous pledge to continue to increase development aid for Africa and bring talented Africans to South Korea for industrial training.

Welcoming Roh's commitment, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and President Boni Yayi of Benin expressed their wish to further expand trade and economic relations with South Korea and asked South Korean firms to increase investments in their countries.

After the separate summit talks, Roh hosted a dinner for all of the three African leaders at Cheong Wa Dae. "South Korea intends to continue expanding Africa-bound aid and play a bigger role in the continent's medical, health, human resources development, IT, trade and investment fields," Roh said in his pre-dinner speech.

"Africa is emerging as a land of new opportunities and hope.

Africa has posted annual economic growth of 4 to 5 percent on average since 2000 and such a trend will further accelerate considering its abundant natural resources and enthusiasm for economic growth. South Korea wishes to be a close partner with Africa," the president said.

The four African leaders are visiting Seoul to attend the first "Korea-Africa Forum," which opened here Wednesday for a two-day run.

The forum, organized as part of South Korea's "Africa Development Initiative" made public during Roh's visit to Nigeria in March, is intended for discussions on expanding practical cooperation between the two sides in the fields of politics, economy, trade and culture.

Cheong Wa Dae said South Korea and African countries aim to map out long-term cooperation projects and their specific implementation

Seoul, Nov. 8 (Yonhap News)