Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati delivered a lecture at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies on Tuesday as part of his current visit to Seoul, outlining Egypt’s foreign policy priorities and vision for addressing the complex regional and international challenges facing the Middle East.
During the lecture, Minister Abdel-Aati stressed that Egypt’s foreign policy is guided by the principles of international law, support for regional stability, sustainable development, peaceful conflict resolution, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. He reviewed Egypt’s positions on key regional issues, particularly developments related to the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Abdel-Aati highlighted Egypt’s efforts to promote de-escalation and facilitate a balanced agreement that takes into account the concerns of all parties, in coordination with regional and international partners.
The foreign minister also addressed Egypt’s positions on the situations in Gaza, Sudan, and Lebanon, as well as developments concerning Egypt’s water security, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea region. He reaffirmed that water security remains an existential issue for Egypt and a top national priority.
On bilateral relations, Minister Abdel-Aati praised the significant progress achieved in Egypt–South Korean ties and underscored the importance of further expanding economic and investment co-operation. He highlighted the remarkable growth in bilateral relations in recent years across a range of sectors, including investment, industry, technology, and infrastructure.
The foreign minister also commended the Korea–Africa partnership as a successful model for development co-operation and stressed the importance of the Korea–Africa Ministerial Meeting in strengthening collaboration among Global South countries through knowledge exchange and mutually beneficial partnerships.
In a separate engagement, Minister Abdel-Aati met with representatives of leading South Korean companies to discuss opportunities for enhancing economic and investment co-operation between Cairo and Seoul.
During the meeting, the foreign minister expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the important contributions of South Korean companies operating in the country and praised the success achieved by Korean businesses across various sectors.
He highlighted Egypt’s strategic location and competitive advantages as a gateway to African markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in addition to the extensive investment opportunities available within the SCZone.
Minister Abdel-Aati also outlined the incentives and facilitation measures offered by the Egyptian government to investors, including streamlined investment procedures, continued infrastructure development, and the provision of industrial land. He welcomed the expansion of existing South Korean investments and encouraged new investments in priority sectors, reaffirming the government’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to South Korean investors.
The foreign minister further reviewed preparations for Egypt’s hosting of the inaugural Alamein–Africa Business Forum later this month, describing it as a key platform for enhancing trade and investment partnerships across the African continent.
He invited South Korean companies to participate actively in the forum and benefit from the promising opportunities offered by African markets.
