In a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Thursday, national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said Lee is scheduled to leave for New Delhi on Sunday for talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, followed by a series of expanded discussions with key officials.
Lee's visit to the world's most populous nation comes just a few months after Indian Ambassador Gourangalal Das told AJP in an exclusive interview in January that a summit between the two leaders could take place soon with focus on elevated partnership in shipbuilding, energy and semiconductor sectors, as well as advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Das, shipbuilding, in particular, is one of the country's top industrial priorities. "There is a huge demand for ships in India," he pointed out earlier, adding that this would offer great opportunities for South Korea, given its technical prowess and competitiveness.
Reflecting this, Wi said, "India is a key partner in expanding the scope of South Korea's pragmatic diplomacy in pursuit of national interests," adding that Lee's visit would further strengthen bilateral ties for "mutually beneficial and strategic cooperation."
He also expressed hope that the two leaders would "lay the groundwork to achieve $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 through various strategic projects in the fields of AI, defense, shipbuilding and maritime industries, opening a new chapter in economic cooperation between the two countries."
Before the summit with Modi, Lee will meet with South Korean nationals in New Delhi upon his arrival and visit a memorial to Indian spiritual leader Mohandas Gandhi to lay flowers in honor of his legacy of nonviolent resistance and civil rights advocacy.
After wrapping up his trip to India with a forum with business leaders there, Lee will fly to Hanoi on Tuesday for talks with Vietnamese President Tô Lâm, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party.
Lee will be accompanied by around 200 business leaders and executives from major conglomerates such as Hyundai Motor, LG, Samsung and SK, as well as representatives from business lobbies including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).
A slew of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on the sidelines of the summit talks are expected to be signed as they seek to expand into emerging markets and strengthen supply chain cooperation.
Lee will return home on Friday.
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