President highlights bilateral cooperation on sidelines of G7 Summit

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a summit talk at the G7 Summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

CALGARY, Canada — President Lee Jae Myung is aiming to deepen engagement with major global partners during his two-day visit to Canada for the G7 Summit, holding a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders on Tuesday (local time).

In his meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Lee underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in trade and defense. He specifically emphasized the need to make meaningful progress on revising the Korea-U.K. free trade agreement (FTA).

“I believe there needs to be further progress on the FTA revision,” Lee said during the meeting held in Kananaskis, Alberta. “I hope today’s meeting will serve as a valuable opportunity to strengthen the longstanding partnership between Korea and the United Kingdom.”

Starmer expressed enthusiasm for future cooperation by working with Lee.

"We want to further strengthen our partnership, whether on trade, particularly the Korea-U.K. free trade agreement, or on defense and security,” Starmer said.

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of the Korea-Canada summit at the G7 Summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

Lee went on to hold talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, marking a key diplomatic engagement with the host nation of this year’s G7 Summit.

Carney emphasized the growing importance of the Korea-G7 partnership, saying Lee’s visit to Canada reaffirms and renews the strong and wide-ranging ties between the two nations.

Lee reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to playing an active role on the global stage. He also highlighted the symbolic significance of choosing Canada as his first overseas destination since taking office.

“Canada holds a special meaning for Korea. Your country supported us during the Korean War and has contributed greatly to our development ever since,” Lee said. “Now it is time for Korea to give back to the international community, including to Canada.”

Both leaders praised the progress made under the comprehensive strategic partnership between their countries and agreed to deepen cooperation in critical areas such as defense and security, energy, climate change and cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence.

In addition, Lee conveyed Korea’s interest in participating in Canada’s submarine acquisition project as part of an expanded defense industry collaboration. In response, Carney acknowledged Korea’s robust defense capabilities and expressed support for enhanced cooperation on regional and global security matters.

The two leaders also exchanged views on key international issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the war in Ukraine and the escalating conflict in the Middle East. They voiced serious concerns over rising tensions in the region and underscored the urgent need for de-escalation and the restoration of stability.

President Lee Jae Myung places his arm around Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s shoulder after a commemorative photo session with G7 and invited country leaders at the G7 summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

Earlier in the day, Lee had a summit meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, marking the first Korea-Brazil summit in a decade.

Lee commended Lula’s leadership in elevating Brazil’s role as a central player in the Global South. He underscored Korea’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation with Brazil, which is Korea’s largest trading and investment partner in Latin America.

The leaders reaffirmed the importance of joint efforts to tackle global challenges such as climate change and pledged to expand collaboration on the international stage.

Emphasizing their shared values of political inclusivity and pragmatic governance, the two presidents agreed to strengthen the comprehensive cooperative partnership between their countries, signaling a renewed chapter in bilateral relations.

President Lee Jae Myung and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo talk during a bilateral summit at the G7 Summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Joint Press Corps.

Lee continued to hold a bilateral summit with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, underscoring their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation and advancing the Korea-Mexico strategic partnership.

During the talk, Lee highlighted that Mexico was the first Latin American country to establish a strategic partnership with Korea and that the country remains the nation’s largest trading partner in the region. Lee expressed his hope to work closely with his Mexican counterpart to further strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in economic cooperation.

Sheinbaum, in turn, praised the active investment of Korean companies in Mexico and voiced her interest in expanding collaboration with Korea in advanced technology sectors and beyond.

Lee also extended an invitation to Sheinbaum to attend the APEC summit, which will be held later this year in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, to which she expressed her gratitude for the invitation and conveyed her best wishes for the summit’s success.

President Lee Jae Myung and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold hands during a bilateral summit at the G7 Summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Joint Press Corps.

Lee also held a bilateral summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the special strategic partnership between Korea and India.

"I hope the Korea-India partnership will reach new heights through strengthened strategic and comprehensive collaboration,” Lee said, emphasizing the importance of advancing ties across various sectors.

Lee also extended his condolences over last week’s Air India plane crash, saying, “I offer my deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and the people of India.”

Modi expressed gratitude for Lee’s words of sympathy and highlighted the need to further expand close cooperation between the two nations.

Modi also invited the Korean president to visit India, to which Lee responded with appreciation.

Through this G7 Summit, Lee met with leaders from nine countries and the head of one international organization, reaffirming mutual trust and signaling the restoration of previously weakened summit diplomacy.

“At the G7 Summit, President Lee Jae Myung engaged in smooth and comfortable conversations with all the world leaders, drawing on his in-depth knowledge of their personal backgrounds, political careers and governing philosophies,” Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson of the presidential office, told reporters during a press briefing in Calgary.

“He also held candid discussions on the unique conditions and ties that connect each country to Korea, openly sharing thoughts tailored to each relationship ... By skillfully and tactfully presenting issues related to Korea’s national interest, the president left a strong and positive impression of Korea’s new leadership on the global stage, executing an impressive diplomatic strategy,” Kang added.