India seeks to expand tie-ups with S Korea in critical tech and semicon
We are interested in expanding into new areas to make our ties more contemporary: Jaishankar
India wants to expand its strategic partnership with South Korea into new areas like critical and emerging technologies, semiconductors and green hydrogen to make the bilateral ties more contemporary, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.
Jaishankar said this as he cochaired the 10th IndiaSouth Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart Cho Taeyul in Seoul.
He said the two sides held a comprehensive and productive discussion on cooperation in the fields of defence, science and technology and trade.
BILATERAL TIES
“Cochaired with @FMChoTae_yul a comprehensive and productive 10th IndiaSouth Korea Joint Commission Meeting in
Seoul today,” Jaishankar posted on X. The conversations covered the expanded bilateral ties, cooperation in the field of defence, science and technology, business and trade, peopletopeople exchange and cultural cooperation, he said.
“Also spoke of advancing trilateral cooperation. Exchanged views on the developments in the IndoPacific, our convergences to challenges in the region and regional & global issues of mutual interest,” Jaishankar said.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Korea in 2015 the bilateral relations were elevated to a special strategic partnership.
“It is important that we live up to that. We have grown from strengthtostrength in the years that have passed. We have become truly important partners for each other and our bilateral exchanges, trade, investments, defence and science and technology cooperation have all seen a steady growth while keeping up the momentum in the traditional areas of cooperation,” the minister said.
“We would be very much interested now in expanding into new areas, such as critical and emerging technologies, semiconductors, green hydrogen, human resource mobility, nuclear cooperation, supply chain resilience, etc to make our ties more contemporary,” he said.
He said the two nations witnessed a growing convergence of their views in the international fora.
“The focus on the IndoPacific region is good case to point, and we both have stakes and its stability, security and prosperity,” he said.
Jaishankar said he approached the joint commission with a great deal of optimism and expectation. “I know there is enormous goodwill between us. Our challenge is to translate that into practical outcomes,” he said.
“Our leaders met twice last year in Hiroshima and New Delhi. I think their discussions have provided us the guidance to go forward,” he added.
He also congratulated Cho for his appointment as foreign minister in December.
“So let me offer my best wishes for your successful tenure,” he said.
FOUR-DAY VISIT
Jaishankar is in Seoul on the first leg of his fourday visit to South Korea and Japan.
He also met Gimhae City Mayor Hong Taeyong on Tuesday and discussed greater cultural and educational cooperation with Gimhae City.
“The Gimhae Ayodhya connect is a testament to our shared cultural heritage and longstanding peopletopeople relations,” he said.