South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung on India visit, holds talks with PM Modi

Lee Jae Myung arrived in India on a three-day state visit and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 20, with a focus on boosting economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

The visit, taking place from April 19 to 21, marks the first by a South Korean head of state to India in over eight years and comes at the invitation of the Indian Prime Minister.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed expanding ties under the India–South Korea “Special Strategic Partnership,” with key areas of cooperation including trade, shipbuilding, artificial intelligence, defence and advanced manufacturing.

The two sides also explored ways to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and set an ambitious target to significantly increase bilateral trade in the coming years.

The discussions also covered supply chain resilience and energy cooperation, particularly in the backdrop of global disruptions linked to ongoing tensions in West Asia.

South Korea has shown interest in increasing imports of naphtha from India as part of efforts to secure energy supplies.

Earlier, President Lee received a ceremonial welcome in New Delhi, followed by delegation-level talks and the signing of multiple agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral engagement.

The visit also includes interactions with business leaders from both countries, reflecting a strong focus on economic collaboration and investment. Around 200 industry executives are part of the broader engagement framework accompanying the visit.

India and South Korea are seeking to deepen cooperation at a time of shifting global trade patterns and geopolitical uncertainty, with both sides positioning the partnership as a key pillar of regional stability and economic growth.