- Thursday, April 18, 2024
The two leaders also discussed on the sidelines of the summit India’s G20 presidency and South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
By: Shubham Ghosh
Prime minister Narendra Modi and South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday (20) reviewed the progress in the bilateral strategic partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas like trade and investment, defence, semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies.
The two leaders held productive bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies in Hiroshima. They also discussed India’s G20 presidency and South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy. During the talks, they reviewed the progress of the India–Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas of trade & investment, high technology, IT hardware manufacturing, defence, semiconductors and culture, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
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The leaders noted that both countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, and agreed to enhance their cooperation further, it said. President Yoon Suk Yeol appreciated Modi’s leadership of the G-20 and conveyed his support.
Modi looked forward to president Yoon’s visit to India for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September this year. India is presently holding the presidency of the G20 grouping.
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Modi welcomed the Republic of Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy and the importance attached to India in it. South Korea launched its first comprehensive regional strategy, the Indo-Pacific Strategy in December 2022.
The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military manoeuvring in the resource-rich region. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.
China also has territorial disputes with Japan in the East China Sea. The leaders also had a positive exchange of views on regional developments.
“PM @narendramodi had a productive meeting with @President_KR Yoon Suk Yeol. India and the Republic of Korea share a warm friendship and deep-rooted cultural linkages. Today’s talks focused on ways to further cement this friendship in key developmental sectors,” the MEA tweeted.
“Advancing – Special Strategic Partnership. PM @narendramodi met @President_KR Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea,” it said.
“The president said South Korea and India should jointly respond to regional and global issues in solidarity as countries that share democratic values,” South Korea’s presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said in a statement. Yoon thanked Modi for taking part in the Summit for Democracy co-hosted by South Korea and the United States in March.
(PTI)
