Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have agreed to elevate the bilateral ties between South Korea and Egypt to a strategic partnership, expanding cooperation in trade, defense, and other sectors during their summit on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the announcement was made at a joint press briefing following their discussions at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. The leaders emphasized their commitment to transforming previous agreements into practical outcomes for the benefit of both countries.
In addition to upgrading relations, Lee and El-Sisi officially announced the initiation of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). This type of free trade agreement aims to foster economic cooperation beyond market liberalization, covering investment and other economic collaborations.
The two nations also signed or revised 12 documents and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to enhance cooperation across various fields such as economic, industrial, energy, technology, and culture. Among the areas of focus are shipbuilding, defense, and technology, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
President El-Sisi arrived in South Korea the day before, marking his first state visit to the country since 2016. The visit included an official welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae, featuring a joint inspection of an honor guard. The leaders engaged in talks that began in a restricted format and later expanded to include senior officials from both countries. A state luncheon was also scheduled as part of the visit.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung expressed hopes that El-Sisi's visit would act as a catalyst in developing the relationship between South Korea and Egypt into a strategic partnership and furthering South Korea's cooperation with Africa and the Middle East. The leaders had previously met in November during Lee's visit to Egypt.