SEOUL, South Korea, June 24 (ANI) — Following his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Wednesday highlighted the growing momentum in relations between South Korea and India, describing the partnership as entering a “new level” of cooperation.
Reflecting on a three-hour engagement with Jaishankar that continued over lunch, Cho emphasized the substantial progress achieved since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to India in April.
“Today, I held an extended meeting with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar), India’s External Affairs Minister, lasting about three hours and continuing through lunch. President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to India in April provided the momentum to elevate Korea-India relations to a new level,” Cho wrote in a post on X.
He said the two ministers reviewed the rapid implementation of agreements reached during the summit, particularly in trade, investment, and finance, and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in those sectors.
Cho noted that support for businesses operating in both countries remains a key focus of the bilateral agenda. He praised the Indian government’s efforts to address challenges faced by South Korean companies in India.
“This week, the Prime Minister’s Office of India is hosting ‘Korea Week,’ delivering on Prime Minister Modi’s promise to directly address challenges faced by Korean businesses in India,” Cho said.
In a reciprocal initiative, he announced that South Korea will soon host a similar dialogue for Indian companies operating in Korea.
The ministers also discussed broader geopolitical and economic developments, including the impact of tensions in West Asia.
“Over the subsequent lunch, Minister Jaishankar and I engaged in an in-depth discussion on the rapidly changing global situation. Our two countries also agreed to maintain close communication in responding to the economic ripple effects stemming from changes in the Middle East situation,” Cho wrote.
The two leaders are scheduled to continue their discussions at the Jeju Forum on Thursday. Looking ahead to the meeting, Cho expressed optimism about further exchanges.
“Minister Jaishankar and I are scheduled to meet again tomorrow at the Jeju Forum. I look forward to his sharp perspective and profound insights on bilateral relations and the international landscape shining through once more,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jaishankar arrived in South Korea for a two-day high-level visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
Upon his arrival in Seoul, Jaishankar met with Cho and held discussions on expanding cooperation across a range of sectors and exploring new opportunities to deepen bilateral relations.
Jaishankar welcomed the opportunity to continue discussions initiated during President Lee’s visit to India in April, when he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed a Joint Strategic Vision to strengthen and expand the India–Republic of Korea Special Strategic Partnership over the next five years, from 2026 to 2030.
During President Lee’s visit, Prime Minister Modi also announced the launch of the India-Korea Friendship Festival in 2028 to celebrate the shared cultural heritage of the two countries.
“India and Korea share a relationship that goes back thousands of years. The story of Princess Suriratna of Ayodhya and King Kim Suro of Korea is part of our shared heritage. Today, K-pop and K-dramas are very popular in India. President Lee is also a fan of Indian cinema. We will launch the India-Korea Friendship Festival in 2028,” Modi said in a joint statement following bilateral talks. (ANI)
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