Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung met with Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in global health initiatives, according to the presidential office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee commended Gates for his contributions to public health and climate change, emphasizing the importance of the nonprofit foundation's global initiatives. Lee expressed a commitment to explore ways for the Republic of Korea to engage more actively in these efforts. "You have been developing public goods for humanity, such as vaccines and eco-friendly energy facilities, which is truly admirable," Lee stated during the meeting.
Bill Gates highlighted the significant role South Korea can play in global health initiatives, particularly through innovative products in vaccines and diagnostic equipment. He praised the growth of Korea's bioscience sector, mentioning ongoing collaborations with companies like SD Biosensor, EuBiologics, SK bioscience, and LG. Gates also discussed the success of the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Global Fund in combating diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, expressing hope for South Korea's increased involvement.
Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, was in South Korea to discuss potential partnerships with Korean pharmaceutical companies on vaccine supply projects targeted at low-income countries. Beyond health issues, Lee and Gates exchanged views on advanced industries, including artificial intelligence and small modular reactors (SMRs), which Gates believes could address rising power demands in sectors like AI and semiconductors.
Gates, who founded SMR developer TerraPower, suggested that these reactors could be integral to meeting future energy needs. Lee expressed interest in developing next-generation nuclear power plants and emphasized the capabilities and expanding global presence of Korean companies in this field.
During their discussions, Gates extended his best wishes to Lee for a successful meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in their upcoming summit. Lee assured that he would approach the talks "wisely," despite anticipating challenges, as relayed by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.