South Korea seeks Libya's support for business expansion

SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has asked Libya to support the expansion of South Korean companies' presence in the North African country, particularly in the oil and refining sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo made the request during a Monday meeting with Fatalla Elzuni, Libya's minister of state for African affairs, who was in Seoul to attend the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting, according to the ministry.

Noting that Libya's security, economic and political situation has been stabilizing in recent years, Elzuni expressed hope that more South Korean companies would expand into Libya's construction and infrastructure sectors.

Park told Elzuni that the South Korean Embassy in Libya will soon fully reopen, noting the move would help lay the groundwork for mutually beneficial cooperation, according to the ministry. The embassy has operated on a rotational basis between Libya and Tunisia since March 2022.

Separately, Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina met with Chad's Deputy Foreign Minister Fatime Aldjineh Garfa on Monday.

Kim called for expanding bilateral cooperation in such areas as development assistance in education and health, as the two countries mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

Garfa voiced hope for stronger ties in areas where South Korea has strengths, including climate change, education and infrastructure, as well as increased high-level exchanges between the two countries, the ministry said.