[Breaking] President Lee Arrives in New Delhi, Begins State Visit Schedule

Discussion on Strengthening the "Special Strategic Partnership"

First Schedule Begins with Community Dinner Meeting... Exploring Joint Response Measures to Middle East Crisis

President Jae-myung Lee arrived in New Delhi, India, on the afternoon of the 19th (local time). During his two-night, three-day state visit, President Lee is expected to discuss the overall Korea-India Special Strategic Partnership and also bring to the table issues related to joint responses to the prolonged Middle East war.

President Jae-myung Lee and First Lady Hye-kyung Kim, who are on a state visit to India, are seen disembarking from Air Force One at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi on the 19th (local time) and moving forward. Yonhap News

Upon his arrival at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi that afternoon, President Lee began his official schedule by meeting with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, followed by a dinner gathering with Korean residents. On the 20th, his itinerary includes an official welcome ceremony, a wreath-laying at the Gandhi Memorial, small-group and expanded summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, a joint press announcement, an official luncheon, a Korea-India business dialogue, a business forum, and a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. This visit marks the first state visit to India by a Korean president in eight years at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as the shortest time taken for such a visit since the launch of any previous administration.

The Blue House sees the anticipated outcome of this visit to India as the full-scale launch of 'Global South' diplomacy. At a press briefing held on the 16th, National Security Office Director Wi Sung-rak described India as a leading country of the Global South with a population of 1.4 billion, the world's fourth-largest economy, and a nation experiencing rapid growth with an annual growth rate of 7%. He emphasized that India is "a key partner in expanding the horizon of practical, national-interest-centered diplomacy."

Director Wi stated that, in order to create new momentum for economic cooperation between the two countries, negotiations to upgrade the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would be accelerated, with the goal of paving the way to achieve a bilateral trade volume of 50 billion dollars by 2030. He identified shipbuilding and marine industries, finance, artificial intelligence (AI), and defense industry cooperation as representative sectors for partnership.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, on a state visit to India, arrived at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi on the 19th (local time) and greeted the welcoming officials. Photo by Yonhap News

Amid the prolonged Middle East war, economic security cooperation is also a core agenda of this visit to India. Director Wi noted that the leaders of the two countries are expected to reaffirm their commitment to maintaining close coordination on energy supply chains amid dramatic changes in the international situation, such as the Middle East conflict, and to continue constructive cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. In addition, as the Blue House has been closely monitoring energy supply and maritime logistics risks in recent days, this visit is expected to serve as a testbed for practical diplomacy that connects foreign policy, supply chains, and energy security as one cohesive strategy.

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