South Korea and Egypt Elevate Relations to Strategic Partnership

President Yoon Suk Yeol announced on October 8 that the relationship between South Korea and Egypt has been elevated to a "strategic partnership," marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.

During a joint press conference following a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who is on a state visit to South Korea, President Yoon stated, "We have issued a joint statement to elevate our relationship to a strategic partnership and agreed to translate our past agreements into tangible outcomes that our citizens can feel."

Yoon highlighted that the two countries achieved significant cooperation in five areas: economic and social, industry and energy, defense and military, culture and education, and international peace and stability. A total of 12 cooperation documents were signed or revised during the meeting.

Notably, the joint production of K9 self-propelled howitzers was praised as a successful model of defense cooperation, and both nations agreed to expand collaboration in shipbuilding, energy, and advanced technology. Next year will be designated as the "Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange between South Korea and Egypt," and they committed to ongoing cooperation for peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East.

Regarding the vision for peace on the Korean Peninsula, Yoon conveyed to President el-Sisi, "Our government's firm philosophy is that creating a peace where there is no need for conflict is the most certain and robust security." He noted that President el-Sisi appreciated South Korea's efforts to foster dialogue and cooperation, expressing full support.

Below is the full text of President Yoon's joint press statement.

I sincerely welcome President el-Sisi and the Egyptian delegation to South Korea on behalf of the people of our nation.

It is truly meaningful that, following my visit to Egypt last year to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, President el-Sisi has come to Korea for the first time in ten years.

Last year in Cairo, President el-Sisi and I agreed to deepen our cooperation for peace, prosperity, and cultural flourishing.

Today in Seoul, we have announced a joint statement to elevate our relationship to a strategic partnership and agreed to translate our past agreements into tangible outcomes that our citizens can feel.

This summit has led to significant achievements in five key areas, with a total of 12 cooperation documents signed and revised.

First, we have established a legal and institutional framework to expand economic and social cooperation between our countries.

Egypt is an economic powerhouse connecting the Middle East and Africa, a key trading partner, and a country where many of our leading companies are actively engaged.

Egypt has also shown great interest in expanding cooperation with our globally competitive companies.

Accordingly, we have officially declared the commencement of negotiations for the "Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)" between South Korea and Egypt, following our agreement last year to pursue this initiative.

We expect this agreement to be concluded swiftly, providing a solid foundation for expanding trade and investment between our countries across various sectors.

Additionally, South Korea has become the first Asian country to sign a "Social Security Agreement" with Egypt.

This agreement is expected to alleviate the burden of double pension contributions for dispatched workers, further promoting mutual business activities and economic engagement.

Second, we have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of industry, energy, and science and technology.

Based on South Korea's world-class shipbuilding capabilities, we signed a "Shipbuilding Cooperation MOU" to contribute to the development of Egypt's eco-friendly shipbuilding industry and ensure continued mutually beneficial cooperation.

Furthermore, through the "Clean Energy Cooperation MOU," we aim to expand our collaboration on energy transition, while the "Power Infrastructure Cooperation MOU" is expected to significantly contribute to stable power supply and energy security.

To enhance cooperation in advanced technology and digital transformation, we established an "ICT Cooperation MOU," laying the groundwork for future-oriented development between our countries.

This expanded cooperation aligns with the three visions of the K-initiative: "Global AI Basic Society," "Green Transition," and "Solidarity for Global Energy Supply Chains."

Third, we have agreed to expand defense and military cooperation.

President el-Sisi and I concurred that the joint production of K-9 self-propelled howitzers has established a successful model of defense cooperation between our countries.

President el-Sisi highly valued our excellent defense capabilities, and I expressed my hope that our defense cooperation would evolve into a mutually beneficial partnership that contributes to strengthening the Egyptian military's capabilities and expanding local production and technology cooperation.

Fourth, we have agreed to deepen cooperation in culture, human exchange, and education.

We will enhance exchanges between our peoples based on our rich cultural heritage and assets, designating next year as the "Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange between South Korea and Egypt."

Additionally, the Egyptian Grand Museum has signed cooperation MOUs with our National Museum of Korea and National Agricultural Museum.

President el-Sisi noted that this cooperation provides an opportunity to widely promote Egypt's rich history and civilization in Korea, and I also expressed my hope that the charm of our culture will come closer to the Egyptian people.

Moreover, President el-Sisi emphasized the role and importance of education in driving South Korea's growth, and our two countries revised the "Higher Education Cooperation MOU" for the first time in ten years to reflect the changing educational environment and expanded cooperation needs.

Finally, we have committed to continuously working towards peace and stability in the international community, including the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East.

I highly appreciate Egypt's efforts for peace in the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip, and both countries will continue to strive for the prompt restoration of peace and stability in the region.

We reaffirmed the importance of ensuring smooth international maritime logistics and the free and safe navigation of all vessels.

I also explained our government's vision for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.

Our firm philosophy is that creating a peace where there is no need for conflict is the most certain and robust security, which I conveyed to President el-Sisi.

President el-Sisi expressed high appreciation for our government's efforts to foster dialogue and cooperation, offering his full support.

Following last year's 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and President el-Sisi's visit to Korea after ten years, the relationship between South Korea and Egypt has been elevated to a "strategic partnership," opening a new chapter in our cooperation.

I hope this new journey we embark on together will shine brightly, just like the "S.H.I.N.E. Initiative" I announced at Cairo University last year.

Once again, I sincerely welcome President el-Sisi and the Egyptian delegation to South Korea, and I congratulate everyone on reaching these fruitful agreements.

Thank you. Shukran.