President Lee Likely to Join ‘Hormuz Virtual Summit’... State Visits to India and Vietnam from 19–24

[Financial News] Cheong Wa Dae announced on the 16th that it is "positively considering President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea’s participation" in a virtual summit on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which will be led by the leaders of the United Kingdom and France. The virtual summit is expected to be held on the evening of the 17th, Korea time. Around 70 to 80 participants, including international organizations, have reportedly been invited. In addition, President Lee will embark on a six-day, five-night state visit to India and Vietnam from the 19th to the 24th to discuss ways to expand strategic cooperation. The economic delegation accompanying this state visit will include the heads of the four major conglomerates—Samsung Group, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Company and LG Corporation (LG)—as well as business leaders such as Doosan Enerbility Chairman Park Ji-won, who will join according to the circumstances in each country.
A senior official at Cheong Wa Dae told reporters that day, "A multilateral meeting jointly hosted by the leaders of the United Kingdom and France is scheduled, and we are positively considering President Lee’s participation as well." The official added, "Freedom and safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are in everyone’s interest, so we are continuing efforts to build solidarity with countries that share similar views."
The official went on to say, "There is a possibility that President Lee will also deliver a message, so we are preparing for that," and explained, "We expect it will cover a wide range of issues, including energy supply chains, our position on the situation in the Middle East, and the need for international cooperation to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."
Regarding the fact that the United States will not be taking part in the meeting, the official commented, "It should not be interpreted as an attempt to exclude the United States," and noted, "Because the United States is a party to the war, it is not part of the current international coalition, but it is coordinating and acting in concert through consultations."
This virtual summit will be co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Previously, South Korea took part in a virtual meeting of military chiefs from 35 countries held on March 26 under the chairmanship of the Chief of the Defence Staff (France), as well as a virtual meeting of foreign ministers from about 40 countries convened by the United Kingdom on the 2nd. The upcoming summit is seen as a continuation of those efforts. On the possibility that a joint statement will be adopted at the virtual summit, the official said, "It is still uncertain whether there will be a joint statement," adding, "We need further working-level discussions in advance."
Meanwhile, President Lee will pay state visits to India and Vietnam from the 19th to the 24th. At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he will visit New Delhi from the 19th to the 21st for a two-night, three-day stay. This will be the first state visit to India in eight years. On the 20th, President Lee will hold a summit meeting and luncheon with Prime Minister Modi. He will then attend a Korea–India business leaders’ dialogue and the Korea–India Business Forum, followed by a state banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu.
Afterward, President Lee will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, where he will continue his state visit schedule through the 24th. On the 22nd, he will hold a summit meeting and attend a state banquet with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of Vietnam. On the 23rd, he will meet Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, the country’s second-ranking official, and then hold a meeting and luncheon with National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the third-ranking official. In the afternoon, he will attend the Korea–Vietnam Business Forum to discuss ways to expand future-oriented economic cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade and investment, artificial intelligence (AI), science and technology, and energy transition.
Wi Sung-lac, head of the National Security Office at Cheong Wa Dae, stated, "We expect that this tour, which will see President Lee visit two rapidly growing countries in succession, will provide an opportunity to broaden the horizons of Korea’s diplomacy and to deepen strategic cooperation in various key sectors."

cjk@fnnews.com Reporter Choi Jong-geun Reporter