Lee set to visit Singapore and the Philippines next week

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to embark on a trip to Singapore and the Philippines next week, Cheong Wa Dae said on Friday.

According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Lee is scheduled to depart for Singapore on Sunday for a summit with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During his three-day stay there, Lee will also meet with ceremonial head of state Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Lee will then attend a joint event between the two countries to discuss exchanges and expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI)-related areas, while meeting with people working in the field.

Kang described Singapore as a transportation, logistics and financial hub that leads regional free trade, expressing expectations that Lee's trip will strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure while expanding collaboration into "promising future sectors" such as AI and nuclear energy.

After wrapping up his itinerary there, Lee will travel to Manila for a summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., and will attend a business forum and other events.

Calling the Philippines a longtime partner as South Korea's first Southeast Asian country to establish diplomatic relations, Kang said that the archipelagic country was also the first Asian country to send the largest number of troops to aid South Korea during the Korean War. She added that Lee's summit, slated for March 3, would be even more meaningful as it marks the 77th anniversary of bilateral relations.

Kang also expressed hope that the visit will deepen the two countries' cooperation across various sectors including defense, trade, nuclear energy, shipbuilding and critical minerals.

She added that the Philippines, which assumed the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, followed by Singapore next year, will help further foster the visions of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established in October 2024.