New Delhi, April 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. Following the meeting, both leaders issued a joint statement. President Lee emphasized the need to promote Korean language and study programs in India through the Korea Foundation and Korean Education Center, given the rising demand.
President Lee expressed gratitude, stating, “To the people of India and PM Modi, I sincerely thank you for your warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation. It is a pleasure to visit your country for the first time in eight years as the President of South Korea.”
He added, “Today, PM Modi and I engaged in deep discussions on ways to further our relationship and shared our views on global and regional issues. With the largest population and the fourth-largest economy, India has emerged as a leader in the Global South. Under your vision of ‘Developed India 2047,’ India is making significant progress. The Republic of Korea is also emerging as a leader in chip-building, semiconductors, and cultural industries.”
President Lee noted, “In these uncertain times, we agree that India and Korea can be the best partners for promoting mutual development and innovation. We also agreed to enhance cooperation in strategic industries such as shipbuilding, AI, finance, and defense, while promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people interactions.”
He stated, “Our goal is to increase the current annual trade volume of $25 billion between India and South Korea to nearly $50 billion by 2030.”
President Lee announced that India and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate electronic payment systems, allowing citizens of both countries to use local QR code systems for payments while traveling. This step is expected to simplify travel between the two nations.
He also mentioned that PM Modi and he shared thoughts on recent events in the Middle East, agreeing that restoring stability and peace in the region is crucial for global security and the economy.
Regarding cinema, culture, language, and education, President Lee stated, “We have agreed to establish a Mumbai-Korea Center under an MoU related to the creative sector. We hope that K-Pop and Bollywood will collaborate to create cultural synergy. We will also promote Korean language and study programs in India through the Korea Foundation and Korean Education Center.”
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