Gyeongju: President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon engaged in summit talks aimed at enhancing bilateral relations. The discussions occurred during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Gyeongju. Emphasizing the historical ties between the two nations, Lee highlighted the support New Zealand provided during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 when New Zealand contributed troops to assist South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee acknowledged New Zealand's role as a significant trading partner for South Korea and noted the recent expansion of bilateral cooperation into the defense sector. He expressed his hope for continued collaboration and mutual support as global complexities increase.
Prime Minister Luxon reciprocated these sentiments by emphasizing the deepening ties between the two countries, grounded in shared values. He highlighted areas such as trade, security, and people-to-people exchanges as key components of this relationship. Luxon also noted that South Korea is New Zealand's fifth-largest trading partner and expressed a desire to further develop these ties.