Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have agreed to elevate the bilateral ties between South Korea and Brazil to a strategic partnership. This decision was made during their summit on Monday, which also focused on expanding cooperation in areas such as the economy, space, the defense industry, and critical minerals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee emphasized that the two countries have already made significant strides in cooperation related to trade, investment, space, and defense. With the new strategic partnership, both nations aim to further broaden their economic cooperation. Lee highlighted plans to expand collaboration in critical areas, including minerals, the environment, the space industry, culture, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.
During the discussions, President Lula underscored Brazil's wealth of natural resources and expressed interest in attracting South Korean investment in critical minerals. He also emphasized the importance of expanding industrial cooperation in sectors like semiconductors, aerospace, and defense. Additionally, Lula proposed discussions on the green industry and energy transition and invited South Korea to join a global fund aimed at preserving tropical rainforests, initiated by Brazil last year.
Monday's summit was also a chance for Lee and Lula to strengthen their personal connection, which began during previous meetings at the Group of Seven summit in Canada and the Group of 20 summit in South Africa. Lee had shared on social media platform X his anticipation of meeting Lula, referring to the Brazilian president as his "eternal comrade," as both leaders share backgrounds as former child laborers.
Upon Lula's arrival at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee warmly embraced him, marking Lula's first state visit to South Korea in 21 years. The welcoming included a traditional ceremony, and later in the evening, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung planned to host a state dinner for Lula and his wife, Rosangela Lula da Silva. The evening would conclude with a private event featuring chicken and beer at a traditional Korean house, where Lula was set to recite a poem by renowned Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade, as shared by Lee's office.