Lithuania–South Korea relations refer to the cooperative relationship between Lithuania and South Korea across political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 14 October 1991, this relationship has continued to develop.
Lithuania maintains an embassy in Seoul, responsible for cooperation with South Korea in political, economic, cultural, and public diplomacy areas. South Korea operates an embassy in Vilnius and promotes business, educational, scientific, and technological exchanges through honorary consulates in cities such as Daejeon and Daegu.
The two countries are expected to continue expanding cooperation in areas such as economic and technological collaboration, cultural and tourism exchanges, and the sharing of international values.
History
Lithuania and South Korea officially established diplomatic relations on 14 October 1991, and South Korea formally recognized Lithuania's independence earlier that year, on 5 September. Initially, Lithuania's embassy in Beijing was also accredited to South Korea, but it later established a resident embassy in Seoul and strengthened its diplomatic activities. Currently, Lithuania maintains its embassy in Seoul, while South Korea operates its embassy in Vilnius, officially managing bilateral relations.
Following the establishment of diplomatic relations, ties between the two countries gradually expanded. On 24 September 1993, the South Korea–Lithuania Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments was signed in Seoul, providing an institutional framework to strengthen the investment environment. In April 2006, a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement was concluded in Seoul, creating mechanisms to reduce tax burdens for both companies and individuals.
From the 2010s onward, practical cooperation in various fields further expanded. The two countries signed a cultural cooperation agreement to promote exchanges in science, culture, and education, including collaboration in the arts, museums, exhibitions, performances, and broadcasting programs. In 2014, an honorary consulate of Lithuania was established in Daegu, and in 2025, a second honorary consulate was opened in Daejeon, enhancing business, educational, and research exchanges in regional cities.
In May 2024, the Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs visited South Korea to officially commemorate the establishment of the Lithuanian embassy in Seoul. During the visit, the minister emphasized economic and technological cooperation with South Korea and highlighted the role of Lithuania as an important link between Europe and Asia.
Political relations
Lithuania and South Korea are both based on liberal democracy and market economies, sharing common values such as human rights, the rule of law, and peace on the international stage. The two countries cooperate through international organizations, including the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, and maintain ongoing diplomatic communication. In particular, mutual visits and meetings between diplomats and high-ranking officials have strengthened political trust, ensuring that diplomatic cooperation between the two countries remains stable.
Economic relations
Economic relations between Lithuania and South Korea have steadily expanded since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Among the Baltic states, Lithuania is South Korea's largest trading partner, and bilateral trade has shown an increasing trend in recent years. In 2022, trade between the two countries exceeded US$500 million, and in 2023 it reached approximately US$474 million.
In the 2020s, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and Lithuanian officials organized multilateral meetings and business forums to promote trade and investment. Discussions have been particularly active in advanced industries such as ICT, biotechnology, energy, and laser technologies.
Tourism and human exchanges
To strengthen cooperation in tourism, the two countries signed a tourism cooperation agreement in 2023. With the growing number of South Korean tourists visiting Lithuania, exchanges through travel agencies, exhibitions, and other activities have increased. Academic, cultural, business, and youth exchange programs are also being actively promoted, and cooperation between educational institutions continues to expand.
References
External links
Korea, South Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea
Kazakhstan–Sweden relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Sweden. They were established on 7 April 1992.
History
On 25–26 October 2004, an official visit by the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to the Kingdom of Sweden took place. During the visit, he held meetings with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Prime Minister Göran Persson, speaker of the Riksdag Björn von Sydow, representatives of the Kazakh diaspora, and business circles. Nazarbayev also visited the Ericsson company and the Kista Science City information technology park, and took part in the business forum "Kazakhstan–Sweden: Investment Opportunities".
In February 2006, Sweden's First Deputy Prime Minister, Bosse Ringholm, visited Kazakhstan at the head of a delegation of business representatives.
Sweden's minister for foreign affairs, Carl Bildt, led the Swedish delegation at the OSCE Summit held in Astana in December 2010.
In 2010, the Embassy of Sweden was opened in Kazakhstan, and in 2013 the Embassy of Kazakhstan began operating in Sweden.
In March 2013, the minister of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan, Erlan Idrissov, visited Stockholm. During the meeting, the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan and Sweden discussed issues of bilateral cooperation in the political and trade-economic spheres, as well as interaction on the international stage regarding current global issues.
In June 2014, a working visit by a delegation of Kazakh parliamentarians to Sweden took place, led by Deputy Chair of the Mäjilis of the Parliament, Dariga Nazarbayeva. Negotiations were held in the Riksdag between Dariga Nazarbayeva and Vice Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Jan Ertsborn. During the visit, the Kazakh parliamentarians met with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Research.
In March 2015, within the framework of the Boao Forum, talks were held between the prime minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Massimov, and the prime minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven. In addition, within the framework of the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Hanoi, talks took place between the speaker of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Kabibulla Dzhakupov, and the speaker of the Riksdag, Urban Ahlin.
Cultural Cooperation
In 2011, a small Kurultai of Kazakhs in Europe was held in Västerås with the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Sweden, the World Association of Kazakhs, the Kazakh Cultural Association in Sweden, and the Federation of the Kazakh Diaspora in Europe.
As part of Swedish Culture Month, a project called "Sweden Nearby" was organized for schoolchildren in Karaganda and Temirtau, where participants had the opportunity to learn about the traditions, culture, history, and national cuisine of Sweden. At the conclusion of the project, participants met with the ambassador of Sweden in Kazakhstan.
See also
- Foreign relations of Kazakhstan
- Foreign relations of Sweden
References
External links
Sweden Category:Bilateral relations of Sweden
Ivory Coast and South Korea established diplomatic relations on 23 July 1961, making Ivory Coast the first African state to form official diplomatic ties with South Korea. Since then, relations have developed steadily, with ongoing cooperation in political affairs, trade, culture, and other fields.
History
In 1960, Ivory Coast gained independence from France. President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who pursued an anti-communist policy, established close relations with Western countries. The following year, on 23 July 1961, Ivory Coast also established diplomatic relations with South Korea, which was aligned with the Western bloc. This made Ivory Coast the first African country to establish formal diplomatic ties with South Korea. South Korea subsequently opened its embassy in Abidjan on 12 July 1966, while Ivory Coast established its embassy in Seoul 31 years later.
After the Ivorian Civil War, the situation in Ivory Coast deteriorated, prompting the South Korean government to dispatch several military officers to support the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country. During this period, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed South Korean diplomat Choi Young-jin as his Special Representative for Ivory Coast.
In 2014, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara visited South Korea, becoming the first head of state from Ivory Coast to do so. He held a summit meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the Blue House, during which the two leaders discussed cooperation in trade and investment, as well as collaboration in cultural and educational affairs, consular matters, and international issues. They also exchanged views on the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Africa.
Ivorians in South Korea
A small number of Ivorians reside in South Korea, primarily for reasons such as studying, business, diplomacy, and consular work. The main point of support for Ivorians in South Korea is the Embassy of Ivory Coast in Seoul, which provides consular services to its citizens and engages in cultural and educational exchange activities. Additionally, cultural events organized by the embassy, such as the Ivory Coast National Day celebrations, are held in South Korea, promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Notable people
Gbato Seloh Samuel is an Ivorian footballer who progressed through the Osan High School and FC Seoul U-18 youth teams, signing a professional contract with FC Seoul in 2025. He is noted as an example of the K League's Homegrown Player system, which promotes players developed through local youth programs.
See also
- Foreign relations of Ivory Coast
- Foreign relations of South Korea
References
External links
South Korea Category:Bilateral relations of South Korea
Guinea–Liberia relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Guinea and Liberia. The two countries share a state border with a total length of 590 km.
History
On 24 December 1989, the First Liberian Civil War began, triggered by Charles Taylor and the NPFL. In 1991, the conflict spread to neighboring Sierra Leone when rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), led by Foday Sankoh, began using Liberia as a base for NPFL-supported attacks on border towns in Sierra Leone. As a result of these events, by 1992 approximately 120,000 people had fled from Sierra Leone to Guinea due to RUF attacks against civilians.
In 2001, Liberian forces, together with the RUF, began attacking and burning refugee camps and Guinean villages along the border. In a public speech, Guinean President Lansana Conté accused refugees of destabilizing the border region and stated that the vast majority of refugees were insurgents.
Conté called on the population of Guinea to defend the country. This led to attacks, beatings, rape, and abductions of refugees by Guinean police and armed forces. Sharp changes in Guinea's refugee policy further intensified the crisis as Liberian civilians attempted to return to territories controlled by the RUF. According to estimates by the United Nations, by 2002 around three million people, or approximately one in five inhabitants of the Mano River Union countries, had been displaced from their homes.
See also
- Foreign relations of Guinea
- Foreign relations of Liberia
- Guinea–Liberia border
References
Liberia Guinea