Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hosts 8th Busan Global Partnership Forum

- Affirming global support for the Korea-led norm of development effectiveness and expressing Korea's commitment -

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea hosted the 8th Busan Global Partnership Forum from September 30 to October 1, 2025 at Lotte Hotel Seoul. The Forum, which was first launched under Korea's leadership in 2014 and has been convened seven times, serves as a global platform to advance the agenda of development effectiveness, a key norm of international development cooperation aimed at enhancing the quality of development finance and the impact of cooperation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under the theme "Development Effectiveness: Partnerships for the Future and Pathways to Inclusive Growth," the Forum brought together approximately 300 participants, including ministerial- and vice-ministerial-level representatives from 11 partner countries-Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras, Indonesia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, Uganda, and Vietnam-alongside delegates from 102 governments, 10 international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and academia.

Participants recognized that the agenda of development effectiveness is of increasing importance to both donor and partner countries, with only five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the continuing rise in demand for development finance. They further discussed:

1. Enhancing the effectiveness of development cooperation;

2. Revitalizing the global discussion on development effectiveness; and

3. Expanding inclusive partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

Co-Chairs of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC), including H.E. Mr. Daniel Epembe Mosango, Secretary General of the Ministry of Planning and Coordination of Development Aid, Democratic Republic of the Congo; H.E. Mr. Febrian Ruddyard, Vice Minister of National Development Planning and Vice Head of Bappenas, Indonesia; Ms. Christina Hartler, Acting Assistant Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; and Ms. Nurgul Dzhanaeva, civil society representative, underscored the imperative for all stakeholders-including donors and partners-to work together in order to strengthen development effectiveness and deliver concrete results.

Participants further expressed appreciation for Korea's leadership in ensuring that development effectiveness was meaningfully reflected in the final outcome of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held this past June. They emphasized the importance of translating the renewed global attention into concrete steps to advance the effectiveness agenda.

At the Welcome Reception of the Forum, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Park Yoonjoo stressed, "the Government of the Republic of Korea is committed to being a responsible member of the community" and "will focus on improving the quality and impact of our development cooperation efforts, so that changes can be witnessed and felt by the people in partner countries."

In her opening remarks, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Ms. Kim Jina underscored, "Korea helped to launch the GPEDC in 2012 and has since hosted a series of forums to sustain this dialogue and broaden its reach." Vice Minister Kim further emphasized that "Korea will continue to serve as a responsible global partner dedicated to advancing sustainable development and shared prosperity."

* Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation: The GPEDC is an inclusive platform that monitors the implementation of development effectiveness principles and promotes knowledge sharing on related topics. It was established in 2012 following the outcome document adopted at the 2011 Busan High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF-4).

In his closing remarks, H.E. Mr. Kweon Ki-hwan, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, underlined Korea's commitment to "working with all partners to uphold and reinforce this Forum as a constructive contribution to global sustainable development and the emerging post-2030 agenda." As the chair of the high-level luncheon, Deputy Minister Kweon highlighted human resource development as "a key enabler of effective development cooperation" and expressed Korea's "commitment to expand 'Human Resource Development ODA.'"

Going forward, the Republic of Korea will remain actively engaged in shaping international norms and frameworks on development cooperation through the UN, OECD, G20 and other platforms, while working to foster greater global consensus and support for more effective and mutually beneficial partnerships.