President Lee to Pay State Visits to India and Vietnam from April 19 to 24, Launching Full-Scale 'Global South' Diplomacy

First State Visit to India in Eight Years: Summit with Modi and Korea-India Business Dialogue
Summit with General Secretary To Lam in Hanoi: Reaffirming the $150 Billion Trade Target by 2030
Discussions on Energy Supply Chains Amid the Middle Ea

President Lee Jaemyung will make a state visit to India and Vietnam from April 19 to April 24, embarking on a six-day, five-night trip to intensify diplomatic engagement with the "Global South." President Lee is scheduled to visit New Delhi, India, from April 19 to April 21 for two nights and three days, and Hanoi, Vietnam, from April 21 to April 24 for three nights and four days.

Yonhap News

Wi Sunglak, Director of the National Security Office, stated in a briefing at the Chunchugwan of the Presidential Office on April 16, "This trip will serve as an opportunity to fully activate diplomacy with the Global South and elevate strategic and mutually beneficial cooperation with both countries to a new level." He explained that the visit to India was made possible at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the first state visit to India by a Korean president in eight years. It is also the fastest state visit achieved since the inauguration of the current administration.

Upon arriving in New Delhi in the afternoon of April 19, President Lee will first meet with India's Minister of External Affairs and then attend a dinner meeting with local Korean residents. On April 20, the official state visit schedule will include a welcoming ceremony, small group and expanded summit meetings with Prime Minister Modi, an MOU signing ceremony, a joint press announcement, and a luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister. President Lee will also participate in a Korea-India business dialogue and a business forum to engage with business leaders from both countries, culminating the Indian itinerary with a state banquet hosted by the president. It has been reported that several Korean companies, including major conglomerates, will join this trip.

The Presidential Office outlined the expected outcomes of the India visit as follows: ▲ Full activation of diplomacy with the Global South ▲ Creation of new momentum for economic cooperation ▲ Strengthened cooperation on Korean Peninsula and regional issues ▲ Improved convenience for Korean residents, visitors, and businesses operating abroad. Director Wi said, "India is a key partner with a population of 1.4 billion and a growth rate in the 7% range," noting, "Through this visit, both countries will reaffirm the vision of a special strategic partnership and seek new cooperation projects in strategic sectors such as shipbuilding, marine industries, finance, artificial intelligence (AI), and defense." He added that the upgrade of the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would serve as a foundation to achieve $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

Yonhap News Agency

The Vietnam visit, coming eight months after the state visit to Korea by General Secretary To Lam in August last year, is regarded as a reciprocal visit. President Lee will arrive in Hanoi on the evening of April 21 and begin his state visit program on April 22 with a luncheon meeting with Korean residents. This will be followed by a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an official welcoming ceremony, a summit meeting and MOU exchange ceremony with General Secretary and State President To Lam, a joint press announcement, and a state banquet. Director Wi stated, "In the midst of global uncertainties, we will focus discussions on practical ways to advance our strategic and mutually beneficial partnership."

On April 23, President Lee will hold separate meetings with the Vietnamese Prime Minister and the Speaker of the National Assembly. Director Wi explained, "The meeting with the Prime Minister will address economic cooperation and resolve issues faced by Korean companies operating in Vietnam," and "the meeting with the Speaker will primarily discuss revitalizing exchanges befitting a comprehensive partnership and improving conditions for Korean businesspeople and residents living in Vietnam."

On the same day, President Lee will attend a business forum to interact with economic leaders and will explore future-oriented cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), science and technology, and energy transition. On April 24, he will tour the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi together with General Secretary To Lam before returning to Korea.

Director Wi highlighted the expected outcomes of the Vietnam visit as follows: ▲ Establishment of top-level partnership ▲ Advancement of Korea-Vietnam strategic economic cooperation ▲ Promotion of future-oriented collaboration. The two countries will reaffirm their goal of achieving $150 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and plan to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, nuclear power, key minerals, and energy sectors. Other key agenda items will include science and technology, climate change response, talent development, cultural industries, and the expansion of tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Director Wi commented, "This trip to India and Vietnam will be an opportunity to expand diplomatic horizons and advance strategic cooperation with these two rapidly growing countries."

Ways to jointly address the disruption in energy supply chains caused by the Middle East conflict are also expected to be discussed. A senior official from the Presidential Office stated, "Both India and Vietnam, which President Lee will visit, are in positions to cooperate due to their similar stances on energy supply chain issues," and added, "We expect that energy supply chain issues and other related matters will also be discussed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.