Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung held a phone conversation with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, where they agreed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including the economy, defense, and technology, as announced by the presidential office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee acknowledged New Zealand as a "valued ally" that contributed to the Korean War effort from 1950 to 1953. He expressed optimism about broadening cooperation in fields such as the economy, defense, arms industries, science, technology, and space. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung conveyed these intentions in a written briefing.
Prime Minister Luxon congratulated President Lee on his recent inauguration and recognized the increasing influence of Korean culture in New Zealand. He expressed a desire to enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
The dialogue between the two leaders underscored the necessity of elevating bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership within the year. They committed to maintaining open lines of communication to achieve this goal.
Additionally, both leaders vowed to collaborate closely for the successful organization of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea later this year. They also agreed to meet in person to discuss and identify specific measures to further solidify bilateral ties.