S Korean Prez to visit India, Vietnam

SEOUL, Apr 16: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit India and Vietnam in the coming days, a senior official said Thursday, as Seoul seeks to secure its fuel supplies to cushion the impact of the Middle East war.

Lee will leave on Sunday for a three-day trip to India, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters.

The two leaders "are expected to reaffirm their mutual commitment to maintaining close coordination regarding energy supply chains amidst the turbulent international landscape", Wi said.

He added that the talks would seek to enhance cooperation in strategic sectors like shipbuilding, artificial intelligence and defence, and "lay the groundwork" for doubling two-way trade to $50 billion by 2030.

Lee and Modi will also discuss "continuing constructive cooperation for the sake of peace on the Korean Peninsula and within the region".    �"AFP