EAM Jaishankar in Seoul: India, South Korea Explore New Opportunities in Trade and Technology

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening India’s partnership with South Korea and advancing cooperation across a range of strategic and economic sectors.

During his visit, Jaishankar held talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, reviewing existing collaborations and identifying new areas for growth in the bilateral relationship.

Building on Recent Leadership-Level Engagements

The discussions in Seoul followed recent high-level interactions between the two countries, including South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to India in April and his subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France.

Those engagements resulted in an agreement on a Joint Strategic Vision for strengthening and expanding the India-Republic of Korea (ROK) Special Strategic Partnership over the 2026-2030 period.

Highlighting the significance of the meeting, Jaishankar said on X: "Pleased to meet @FMChoHyun of RoK in Seoul today. Our discussions followed upon the outcomes of recent visit of President @Jaemyung_Lee to India. We reviewed our cooperation across political, shipbuilding, trade, investments, defence, technology, clean energy, culture and P2P domains. As well as opportunities in startups, fintech and multilateral fora. Also exchanged views on development in our respective regions and around the world."

Which Areas Were Reviewed?

According to Jaishankar, the two sides assessed cooperation across a broad spectrum of sectors.

The discussions covered political engagement, shipbuilding, trade, investments, defence, technology, clean energy, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Both countries also explored future opportunities in emerging sectors such as startups and fintech, while exchanging views on regional and global developments.

The talks underscore the growing scope of India-South Korea relations, which increasingly extend beyond traditional trade ties to include technology, innovation and strategic cooperation.

Modi and Lee Jae-myung Looking to Expand Cooperation

The Seoul discussions also reflected momentum generated by the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during the G7 Summit in Evian, France.

During that interaction, the two leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation in trade, commerce and future-oriented sectors.

Following the meeting, President Lee stressed the shared ambition to broaden bilateral engagement.

"Prime Minister Modi and I have agreed to strengthen cooperation in all aspects--economic, cultural, and social--between Korea and India going forward, and to develop our two countries into a new relationship," Myung said.

Part of a Wider Diplomatic Outreach

Jaishankar’s South Korea visit comes immediately after his trip to Mongolia, which formed part of a broader four-day diplomatic outreach covering both countries.

In Mongolia, the External Affairs Minister met President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The visit focused on strengthening what both countries describe as a strategic partnership rooted in deep spiritual and cultural connections.

Reflecting on his meeting with the Mongolian President, Jaishankar said: "Value his guidance on advancing our strong cooperation in a wide range of sectors. Fully agree with him that the greatest friendship is spiritual friendship."

Why the Visit Matters

Jaishankar’s visit signals India’s continued focus on strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. With India and South Korea seeking deeper collaboration in trade, defence, technology, clean energy and emerging industries, the discussions in Seoul are expected to contribute to the next phase of the Special Strategic Partnership and help shape bilateral cooperation through the end of the decade.

(With inputs from ANI)