PM Modi welcomes Korean President Lee in India

NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Monday warmly welcomed President Lee Jae-myung on his first official visit to India, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations between India and the South Korea after a gap of eight years since the last presidential visit.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister described President Lee’s life and leadership as an inspiring example of service and dedication, underscoring the shared democratic values and strategic convergence between the two nations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted that the visit reflects renewed momentum in the India–Korea Special Strategic Partnership and a mutual commitment to strengthening cooperation across key sectors.

Both leaders held comprehensive discussions covering trade and investment, technology collaboration, defence cooperation, and supply chain resilience. They emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral trade, facilitating investments, and enhancing cooperation in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, green energy, shipbuilding, electronics manufacturing, and digital innovation.

The India–Korea Business Leaders’ Dialogue, held alongside the visit, brought together top industry leaders from both countries and showcased the vast opportunities for collaboration. The dialogue focused on boosting industrial partnerships, strengthening manufacturing ecosystems, and leveraging each country’s strengths to enhance global competitiveness.

Prime Minister Modi noted that closer economic ties could unlock new avenues of growth and innovation, contributing to job creation and sustainable development in both nations. He also stressed the importance of people-to-people exchanges, cultural ties, and academic collaboration in deepening the partnership.

President Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to expanding its engagement with India, recognizing the country as a key partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy. He expressed optimism that the visit would pave the way for enhanced cooperation and a stronger, future-ready partnership.

The visit is expected to result in the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at accelerating collaboration in priority sectors, further cementing the India–South Korea relationship as a cornerstone of regional stability and economic progress.