Cairo: President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss enhancing cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, alongside boosting economic and defense industry ties. This meeting marked the first official visit by a South Korean president to Egypt in three years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, both leaders agreed to act as "facilitators of peace," contributing to international peace efforts in the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East. During a joint press briefing at the presidential palace in Cairo, Lee highlighted El-Sisi's commendation of Seoul's efforts towards peaceful coexistence and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula, expressing full support for these initiatives.
Lee acknowledged Egypt's role in securing a ceasefire and advancing reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized South Korea's commitment to cooperating with Egypt to address the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza refugees. The discussions also explored expanding "mutually beneficial" defense cooperation beyond the joint production of K9 howitzers, into areas like aircraft and ground weapons systems.
In 2022, Egypt entered a US$1.7 billion contract with Korean defense firm Hanwha Aerospace for K9 self-propelled howitzers and other equipment, with delivery expected next year. Lee expressed hope for expanding cooperation to include the FA-50 aircraft and the Cheongeom air-launched anti-tank guided missile. El-Sisi voiced confidence in South Korea's advanced defense technologies and anticipated mutually beneficial cooperation through joint production.
The summit led to an agreement to pursue the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to lower trade barriers and boost economic cooperation. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac announced the completion of a joint CEPA study, with plans for a joint declaration to advance preparations.
Wi noted that CEPA would facilitate market opening and promote bilateral trade. The nations also inked memorandums of understanding on education and cultural exchanges to strengthen people-to-people ties, amid rising interest in Korean content in Egypt.
On regional security, discussions included reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip, with Egypt set to host an international conference following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Wi indicated Egypt's request for South Korea's participation in Gaza's reconstruction, with Seoul agreeing to contribute financially and through private company involvement, excluding military participation.
Lee invited El-Sisi to South Korea next year for follow-up discussions and proposed establishing direct communication channels between both leaders to ensure "practical cooperation." If El-Sisi accepts, it would be his first visit to South Korea in nearly a decade.