Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to host separate meetings with his Mexican and Kuwaiti counterparts next week to explore avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation across sectors such as the economy and energy security, the foreign ministry announced on Thursday. According to Yonhap News Agency, Mexican Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco will arrive in Seoul for discussions with Cho on Monday. This visit marks the first time in three years that a Mexican foreign minister has traveled to South Korea. The discussions are anticipated to focus on strengthening economic ties and collaboration in fields including artificial intelligence, space, culture, education, and defense.
Mexico stands as South Korea's primary trading and investment partner in Latin America, with the two nations having established a strategic partnership in 2005. This partnership was the first of its kind between Seoul and a Latin American country, fostering close cooperation across various fields.
Additionally, Cho is scheduled to meet with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in Seoul on Tuesday. Al-Sabah's visit is notable as it will be the first by a Kuwaiti foreign minister to South Korea since 2007.
"As cooperation with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries expands following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, the two sides are expected to hold in-depth discussions on revitalizing high-level exchanges, ensuring a stable energy supply, Korean companies' participation in post-war reconstruction projects and ways to expand government-to-government cooperation," stated ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon during a regular press briefing.
Kuwait was South Korea's fifth-largest crude oil supplier and fourth-largest overseas construction market as of 2025, with both countries maintaining a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership, the ministry noted.