By Linda Kwanjana
Malawi leader President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, on Monday held bilateral talks with Prime Minister (PM) of South Korea, Dr. Han Duck-soo at Kamuzu Palace.
The South Korean PM jetted into the country earlier in the day as part of his working tour of Africa which includes Togo and Cameroon.
The talks between the two leaders centered around strengthening of ties in mutual areas of cooperation.
Thereafter, the two were joined by respective Foreign Affairs emissaries at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC).
The MoU will enhance Malawi’s relations with Republic of South Korea in mutual areas including Agriculture, Health, Human Resource Development, Education, Climate Change and Tourism among others.
During the discussions, President Chakwera thanked the Prime Minister and the people of South Korea, for their swift response in providing humanitarian assistance to Malawians during Cyclone Freddy.
In addition, South Korea has promised to continue assisting Malawi in smart agriculture that will coincidentally help the country build resilience against future climate shocks.
The JPCC – whose meetings will alternate between two to three years – will among other outcomes facilitate the establishing of a diplomatic mission in Lilongwe.
The Republic of South Korea closed their mission in Lilongwe in 1992.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has since left Malawi for Togo.