South Korean President Moon Jae In will make a state visit to India between 8th and 11th of July. The presidential Blue House announced on Monday. The state visit will be the first of its kind since Jae-in took office in May 2017.
Jae-in is slated to hold a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their discussions are expected to focus on ways to increase economic cooperation. Having been invited by PM Modi, the South Korean President will also meet Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on his first visit to the subcontinent, according to a Blue House statement.
The long-overdue visit comes close on the heels of a meeting between Indian Minister of State for External Affairs General V.K. Singh and the North Korean officials in Pyongyang. During their meeting in May, General V.K. Singh held discussions on a host of issues with Kim Yong Dae, Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly; Ri Yong Ho, Foreign Minister; Pak Chun Nam, Minister of Clture; and Choe Hui Chol, Vice-Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The South Korean Presidential Office also added that India is increasingly becoming a crucial partner for Seoul not only in terms of the economy, but for implementation of its plans for peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula as well. South Korea formally established ties with India in 1973.
After his visit to India, Moon will also visit the country of Singapore between 11th and 13th of July, the Blue House said. There he is expected to give a speech on his vision and policies for permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula as well as on cooperation with Asian countries in the region.
