India, South Korea review strategic partnership, agree to deepen cooperation in trade, defence, cutting-edge technologies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday reviewed the progress in the bilateral strategic partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas like trade and investment defence semiconductors and cuttingedge technologiesThe two leaders held productive bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven G7 advanced economies in HiroshimaThey also discussed Indias G20 presidency and South Koreas IndoPacific strategyDuring the talks they reviewed the progress of the IndiaiquestRepublic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation particularly in areas of trade amp investment high technology IT hardware manufacturing defence semiconductors and culture the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said in a statementThe 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 saidAlso Read PM Modi holds talks with Japanese counterpart KishidaPresident Yoon Suk Yeol appreciated Prime Minister Modis leadership of the G20 and conveyed his support Prime Minister looked forward to President Yoons visit to India for the G20 Leaders Summit in September this yearIndia is presently holding the presidency of the G20 groupingPrime Minister Modi welcomed the Republic of Koreas IndoPacific strategy and the importance attached to India in itSouth Korea launched its first comprehensive regional strategy the IndoPacific Strategy in December 2022The US India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free open and thriving IndoPacific in the backdrop of Chinas rising military manoeuvring in the resourcerich regionChina 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 SeaThe leaders also had a positive exchange of views on regional developmentsPM narendramodi had a productive meeting with President_KR Yoon Suk Yeol India and the Republic of Korea share a warm friendship and deeprooted cultural linkages Todays talks focused on ways to further cement this friendship in key developmental sectors the MEA tweetedAdvancing Special Strategic Partnership PM narendramodi met President_KR Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea it saidThe president said South Korea and India should jointly respond to regional and global issues in solidarity as countries that share democratic values South Koreas presidential spokesperson Lee Dowoon said in a statementYoon thanked Modi for taking part in the Summit for Democracy cohosted by South Korea and the United States in MarchPrime Minister Modi expressed his agreement saying the two countries should strengthen strategic communication and cooperation he was quoted as saying by South Koreas Yonhap news agencyYoon and Modi held inperson talks for the first time agreeing to develop a special strategic partnership between the two countries in a substantive manner according to LeeThe two leaders agreed to advance cooperation not only in arms which include K9 selfpropelled howitzers but also in cuttingedge technologies such as digital biohealth and space the spokesperson saidIn particular they agreed to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that went into effect between South Korea and India in 2010 and to further expand bilateral trade and find new areas of cooperation to prepare for the next 50 years he saidThe two leaders also discussed issues related to the Korean Peninsula the IndoPacific and beyond sharing the view that the two likeminded nations are building a firm framework for cooperation on the basis of democratic solidarityThey agreed to jointly contribute to regional peace and stability by harmonising South Koreas IndoPacific Strategy and Indias Act East PolicyThey also agreed to jointly support efforts to fight climate change and help develop emerging and developing nations in the socalled Global SouthYoon and Modi agreed to meet again and continue discussions on the occasion of the G 20 summit to be held in India in September while activating highlevel channels between the two countries Lee saidModi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday to attend three sessions at the G7 summit following an invitation by Japanese counterpart Fumio KishidaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever