Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung held a meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday to explore ways to strengthen healthcare cooperation, as announced by Lee's office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting took place at Cheong Wa Dae amid Tedros's visit to Seoul for the World Bio Summit 2026. The summit, hosted by WHO in collaboration with South Korea, is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
During their discussions, President Lee emphasized South Korea's intention to expand its role and contributions to the global community. He expressed a desire for continued collaboration with WHO in the area of health security. President Lee also requested Tedros's assistance in facilitating the involvement of more skilled South Koreans in WHO activities, highlighting South Korea's evolution from a recipient of international aid to a significant contributor.
Tedros acknowledged South Korea's efforts to bolster cooperation with WHO and enhance global health, noting the country's developmental achievements. He highlighted the significance of equitable international cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and expressed hopes for increased collaboration with South Korea in AI and biotechnology. The meeting also included discussions on international coordination to prevent and respond to infectious diseases.