SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung had a summit with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasília on Monday, where they agreed to deepen cooperation in defense, aerospace, critical minerals and other strategic industries.
Lee's trip to Brazil, which followed Lula's state visit to Seoul in February, marked the first state visit by a South Korean president to Brazil in 11 years.
In a joint statement after their summit which lasted about 140 minutes, the two leaders pledged to expand cooperation into defense, aerospace, digital technologies and supply chains through a newly launched high-level committee on industrial and trade cooperation.
Lee stressed the need for cooperation with Mercosur countries, calling it an urgent task that could "no longer be delayed" amid growing uncertainty in global trade. He said the pact with the trade bloc would help South Korean companies expand into the South American market while providing Brazilian firms with greater access to Asia. The South American bloc, established in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, is similar to a free trade agreement (FTA) but covers a broader range of areas.
The two countries signed a series of agreements on industrial technology, energy and space cooperation to facilitate South Korean commercial launches from Brazilian spaceports and expand collaboration in lunar exploration and satellite data sharing.
They also pledged to expand collaboration in critical minerals, semiconductors, batteries, shipbuilding and artificial intelligence, combining Brazil's abundant natural resources with South Korea's manufacturing and technological strengths.
Lee and Lula agreed to launch a committee for bilateral defense cooperation later this year and pursue an agreement on the exchange of classified military information. Highlighting closer defense ties, Lee cited South Korea's planned procurement of a C-390 military transport aircraft, manufactured by Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. Lee had inspected the aircraft upon his arrival in Brazil the previous day.
The two leaders reaffirmed strategic coordination on global issues including international peace and security, climate change and artificial intelligence, with Lula expressing support for South Korea's efforts to achieve lasting peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee's trip to Brazil, which followed Lula's state visit to Seoul in February, marked the first state visit by a South Korean president to Brazil in 11 years.
In a joint statement after their summit which lasted about 140 minutes, the two leaders pledged to expand cooperation into defense, aerospace, digital technologies and supply chains through a newly launched high-level committee on industrial and trade cooperation.
Lee stressed the need for cooperation with Mercosur countries, calling it an urgent task that could "no longer be delayed" amid growing uncertainty in global trade. He said the pact with the trade bloc would help South Korean companies expand into the South American market while providing Brazilian firms with greater access to Asia. The South American bloc, established in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, is similar to a free trade agreement (FTA) but covers a broader range of areas.
The two countries signed a series of agreements on industrial technology, energy and space cooperation to facilitate South Korean commercial launches from Brazilian spaceports and expand collaboration in lunar exploration and satellite data sharing.
They also pledged to expand collaboration in critical minerals, semiconductors, batteries, shipbuilding and artificial intelligence, combining Brazil's abundant natural resources with South Korea's manufacturing and technological strengths.
Lee and Lula agreed to launch a committee for bilateral defense cooperation later this year and pursue an agreement on the exchange of classified military information. Highlighting closer defense ties, Lee cited South Korea's planned procurement of a C-390 military transport aircraft, manufactured by Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. Lee had inspected the aircraft upon his arrival in Brazil the previous day.
The two leaders reaffirmed strategic coordination on global issues including international peace and security, climate change and artificial intelligence, with Lula expressing support for South Korea's efforts to achieve lasting peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
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