Korea-Africa Summit, President Boakai Advocates for Unified Efforts to Realize Africa’s Progressive Future.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has urged global leaders to remember that the future is uncertain unless unified actions are taken to harness Africa’s potential to achieve shared objectives and cultivate a transformed, fair, and sustainable future for its inhabitants.
On Tuesday, June 4, during his keynote speech at the Summit, which emphasizes shared growth, sustainability, and solidarity, President Boakai recognized that the dual processes of globalization and technological progress have stimulated global growth and economic development. He noted that these processes have also introduced the twenty-first century with significant achievements in human development.
He stated, “The concept of ‘shared growth,’ which is part of this summit’s theme, should reflect our joint aspiration that growth should be accompanied by development, prosperity should be inclusive to benefit all individuals, and the benefits of development should not be reserved solely for a select few.”
The Liberian president believes that shared growth and a shared future should be pursued in conjunction with Agenda 2063, the pan-African initiative to promote collective prosperity, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the World Sustainable Development Goals.
President Boakai took the opportunity to request clarification from the Summit that would enable the application of the knowledge that Liberia and other delegates have collectively gained to enhance prosperity.
President Boakai acknowledges the importance for nations attending the Summit to share experiences from South-South cooperation, which could help improve the social and economic conditions of their respective populations.
He stated, “This Summit should further promote South-South cooperation to address common developmental issues in the global south. No single nation can tackle the myriad of complex global challenges on its own.”
He added, “Only by standing together in solidarity can we apply our collective efforts to address climate change, disease, poverty, and the many other issues that affect us all.”
He stated that this can be accomplished through a strong partnership with the people of Korea, who, he noted, have shown Africa the value of human capital, their most valuable resource, in shaping the future of any country.
In doing this, however, the Liberian leader emphasized that Africa and Africans must also recognize that sustainability should underpin development efforts.
He stated, “Resources are not limitless; therefore, the careful use or exploitation of our collective natural wealth must always be considered in preserving a sustainable earth for future generations.”
President Boakai further noted that achieving a sustainable future is possible by accepting options or alternatives that do not deplete the earth but also protect the environment.
Therefore, he stated that Liberia, as one of the guardians of the equatorial rainforest, plans to promote a sustainable future by leveraging this natural asset to combat climate change.
At the same time, President Boakai informed the attendees that those present at this Summit represent approximately a fifth of the world’s population, and as a community, they must have a critical mass in solidarity that should enable Africa and the World to confront and address environmental challenges.
President Boakai acknowledged the Republic of Korea as a genuine friend and partner, one from whom he believes Liberia can learn, as the country has much to offer Africa in its pursuit of a transformative future.
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