South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has pledged to translate the new strategic partnership with Egypt into tangible benefits for both nations. During talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Seoul, Lee outlined plans to expand cooperation in trade, shipbuilding, clean energy, and defense. The two leaders agreed to elevate relations to a strategic partnership, marking a significant milestone in bilateral ties.
Lee invoked the Arabic proverb "Choose your companion before the road" in a post on social media, emphasizing the importance of the partnership. He described Egypt as a major economic power in Africa and the Middle East, a key trading partner, and a country where South Korean companies operate actively. The two sides also signed and amended cooperation documents, broadening cooperation beyond trade and investment.
The economic agenda includes the launch of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a social security agreement. South Korea became the first Asian country to conclude a social security agreement with Egypt, strengthening economic and human connections. Lee pledged to contribute Korea's shipbuilding capabilities to developing Egypt's environmentally friendly shipbuilding industry.
The two leaders also agreed on the need to restore peace and stability in the Middle East as soon as possible. They reaffirmed the importance of free and safe navigation for all vessels and the smooth flow of international maritime transport. Lee explained South Korea's efforts to ease tensions and build confidence on the Korean Peninsula, and El-Sisi expressed full support for those efforts.
El-Sisi's visit to South Korea marks a significant milestone in bilateral ties, with the Egyptian president renewing an invitation to establish an integrated Korean industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The two leaders also discussed regional peace and maritime security, with Lee expressing hope that the two countries' new journey would shine more brightly.
The partnership's future is linked to the SHINE initiative unveiled at Cairo University during Lee's visit to Cairo last year. Lee expressed hope that the two countries' new journey would shine more brightly, and he pledged to turn today's commitments into results that the peoples of both countries can feel. The summit follows the countries' first strategic dialogue in Seoul in June.
El-Sisi's three-country Asian tour includes Malaysia and Indonesia, with South Korea being the first stop. Lee's earlier welcome message expressed hope that the Han and Nile "miracles" would bring greater shared prosperity. The two countries have signed 12 MoUs and agreements during El-Sisi's Seoul visit, marking a significant expansion of cooperation between the two nations.
Key points
- South Korea and Egypt have elevated relations to a strategic partnership, with plans to expand cooperation in trade, shipbuilding, clean energy, and defense.
