President Lee Says Korea-Mexico FTA Talks Should Resume Soon, Accepts Invitation to Visit Mexico

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[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung stressed the need to resume negotiations on the Korea-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during a phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on the 14th.
Kang Yoo-jung, senior presidential spokesperson at Cheong Wa Dae (The Blue House), said in a written briefing that Lee spoke with Sheinbaum earlier in the morning.
The two leaders noted that high-level exchanges have continued since their bilateral summit in June last year, held on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders' Summit, and a letter exchange between the presidents in January this year.
They also shared their impression that the tens of thousands of people who gathered at Mexico City's Zócalo on the 6th to see BTS were highly impressive. On that basis, they agreed to work together to deepen cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.
Lee pointed out that Mexico is South Korea's largest trade and investment partner in Latin America, and emphasized that FTA negotiations between the two countries should resume as soon as possible.
This aligns with the Blue House's trade diplomacy stance in its second year in office, which seeks to reduce the negative impact of overseas risks and expand the space for economic activity based on free trade. Wi Sung-lac, director of the Office of National Security (ONS), also said the previous day that resuming Korea-Mexico FTA talks is a key task for expanding markets and strengthening the diplomatic safety net.
Lee also said that, as global economic uncertainty grows after the Arab-Israeli conflict, the two countries, which share similar positions, should deepen cooperation in a range of fields, including energy. Kang said Sheinbaum also showed strong interest in expanding practical cooperation, including economic ties with South Korea.
Lee also congratulated Mexico, which is preparing to host the FIFA World Cup for the third time in June, the first country in the world to do so, and wished it success.
Lee accepted Sheinbaum's invitation to visit Mexico. The two leaders agreed to move ahead with working-level preparations and discuss ways to further develop bilateral relations in greater depth.
west@fnnews.com Sung Seok-woo Reporter