PM Modi, S Korean Prez Moon hold 'constructive' talks on trade, defence and security

To enhance bilateral cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, defence and security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held "constructive" talks on Friday.

PM Modi was accorded an official reception at the Blue House, the executive office and official residence of the South Korean President in Seoul.  Addressing the media after the talks with President Moon, Prime Minister Modi said that South Korea is an important partner in India's economic transformation.

“I express my gratitude to President Moon for his condolences and support on the last week's Pulwama attack and support against terror. We are committed towards strengthening our bilateral and multilateral cooperation against terrorism.

“An MoU signed between India's Home Ministry and South Korea's National Police Agency today will further take forward our counter-terrorism cooperation,” Modi said.

He said that the time has come when the world, going beyond the talks, should unite and act against terrorism.

“In India's economic transformation, we consider Korea as a valuable partner. Our trade and investment relations are growing. Today, President Moon and I have repeated our commitment to increasing our bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.

“In sectors like Infrastructure, port development, marine and food processing, start-ups and small and medium enterprises, we agree to increase our cooperation,” the prime minister said.

Modi said that the defence sector has an important role in the growing strategic partnership.

“An example of this can be seen in the induction of the K-9 'Vajra' artillery gun in the Indian Army,” he said.

To take the remarkable cooperation in in defence production ahead, India and South Korea have also agreed to create a roadmap on defence technology and co-production.

Under this, India welcomes the involvement of South Korean companies in the defence industrial corridors being developed in India, the prime minister said.

“In July last year, we had the opportunity to welcome President Moon to India. We also met during the East Asia Summit and G-20 Summit. I have experienced that the coordination of India's Act East Policy and Korea's New Southern Policy is giving a strong platform to further deepen and strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership,” Modi said.

India's vision in relation to the Indo-Pacific region lays special emphasis on inclusion, ASEAN's centrality and shared prosperity.

This is an area in which India and South Korea can work together for the benefit of the whole region and the world, based on shared values and interests, he said.

“I am happy that after the visit of President Moon to India last year, we have made significant progress in our relations in a very short time. This is based on our shared vision of progress and roadmap of our relations in future, people, peace and prosperity,” Modi said.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to South Korea to strengthen India's strategic ties with the country.

On Thursday, PM Modi unveiled Mahatma Gandhi's bust. 

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister described it as an honour to unveil the bust of Bapu at Yonsei University.

This becomes even more special because we are doing so at a time when we mark the 150th birth anniversary of Bapu, the prime minister said.

The thoughts and ideas of Bapu have the power to help us overcome the menace of terrorism and climate change, two challenges humanity faces in these times, said the prime minister.

Through his lifestyle, Bapu showed what living in harmony with nature is, and how one can minimize one's carbon footprint. He also showed that it is important to leave a clean and green planet for the future generations, the PM added.

Yonsei University is among the most prestigious universities in South Korea. Mahatma Gandhi is revered in South Korea as an icon of world peace.

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(With PTI inputs)