Lee holds separate talks with India's Modi, Brazil's Lula on sidelines of G20 summit

President Lee Jae Myung, left, speaks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their talks on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung held back-to-back talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss bilateral cooperation, the presidential office said Sunday.

During his meeting with Modi on Saturday (local time), Lee expressed hope to forge deeper cooperation in the economy, culture and security, as well as people-to-people exchanges, the office said.

Modi praised Korea's advanced shipbuilding capabilities and a small-group cooperative framework with Korea in future-oriented sectors, such as shipbuilding, while also expressing hope to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the defense industry, according to the office.

"The two leaders agreed on the need to boost bilateral cooperation in various areas, such as artificial intelligence and the defense industry, and push for working-level consultations," the office said in a release.

During the talks, Modi invited Lee to India, and Lee expressed hope to visit India to further promote bilateral ties, it said.

Separately, Lee met with Lula to explore ways to enhance cooperation between the two governments in the areas of economy, culture and security, as well as between their private sectors.

They also exchanged views on economic policy, income redistribution, and democracy, and extended invitations to visit each other's country, the office said.

On the margins of the G20 summit, Lee held separate summits with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday.