India's leader visits for summit with Moon
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers a speech during the India Korea Business Symposium in Seoul, Thursday, Feb. 21. Modi arrived Thursday for a two-day state visit. AP-Yonhap
By Kim Yoo-chul
President Moon Jae-in will hold a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Cheong Wa Dae, today, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.
Modi's trip to South Korea comes after Moon made a state visit to India last year. Modi is the first foreign leader to have a state visit to South Korea this year, the presidential office.
The Indian prime minister arrived Thursday afternoon at a military air base in Seongnam, outside of Seoul. The visit is aimed at strengthening the special strategic partnership with the South, and boosting bilateral trade and cultural ties.
“South Korea and India will seek to enhance cooperation in diverse areas including trade and investment. The level of the bilateral partnership will be expanded into the defense, science and technology and infrastructure areas,” the presidential office said, adding the leaders of the two countries will also explore ways to add more dynamism to South Korea's New Southern Policy and India's Look East Policy.
Modi is scheduled to have bilateral and business engagements, unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi and accept the Seoul Peace Price conferred upon him.
A joint press conference is also planned after the bilateral summit, Friday afternoon.
Modi described South Korea as a valued friend for India's key initiatives such as “Startup India” and “Make in India.” India is home to large manufacturing facilities of South Korean firms including Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor.
Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun were invited to the state luncheon to be held at Cheong Wa Dae after the Moon-Modi summit.
India is a key nation in South Korea's New Southern Policy, one of two major foreign policies of the Moon Jae-in administration that seeks to promote regional cooperation with South Asian countries, as well as the 10 ASEAN member states.
Under the new foreign policy, South Korea is seeking to double its trade with ASEAN countries to over $200 billion by 2020.