President Lee Talks with Mexican President: "Need to Swiftly Resume FTA Negotiations"

Agreement to Expand Cooperation with Mexico, Korea's Largest Trade and Investment Partner in Latin America, Including Energy
Leaders Reference BTS Crowd at Zócalo Square, Pledge to Strengthen Cultural Exchanges
President Lee Accepts President Sheinb

On May 14, President Lee Jae-myung held a phone conversation with Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of Mexico, and emphasized the need to promptly resume negotiations on the Korea-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

President Lee Jae-myung held a phone call with Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of Mexico, on the 14th to discuss ways to develop bilateral relations. (Photo by Cheong Wa Dae)

Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Presidential Spokesperson, stated in a written briefing that President Lee had a phone call with President Sheinbaum in the morning to discuss ways to further develop bilateral relations.

The two leaders evaluated that since holding their first bilateral summit in nine years on the occasion of the G7 Summit in June last year, there has been ongoing friendly high-level exchange, including the exchange of letters between the leaders in January this year.

In particular, both leaders shared their impressions of the tens of thousands of people who gathered at Zocalo Square in Mexico on May 6 to see BTS, describing the event as highly impressive. They agreed to use this as an opportunity to strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

President Lee noted that Mexico is Korea's largest trading and investment partner in Latin America and stated, "There is a need to promptly resume FTA negotiations between the two countries." He also expressed hope that, given both countries are in similar positions amid growing global economic uncertainty following the Middle East conflict, they will expand cooperation in a variety of sectors, including energy. In response, President Sheinbaum expressed great interest in enhancing practical cooperation with Korea, including in economic areas.

President Lee also congratulated Mexico on becoming the world's first country to host the FIFA World Cup for the third time in June and wished for its success. He accepted President Sheinbaum's invitation to visit Mexico. The two leaders agreed to continue working-level preparations without delay and to discuss in greater depth ways to further develop bilateral relations.

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