President Lee Meets Kenyan President Ruto, Discusses Development Cooperation

President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with Kenyan President William Ruto on June 17 during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. Lee expressed his desire for South Korea to join Kenya on its path of development, praising Ruto's leadership for the country's progress.

During the meeting, Lee stated, "I hope we can deepen the cooperative relationship between Kenya and South Korea even further." He reflected on South Korea's own rapid development after liberation from colonial rule, noting the significant assistance received from various countries during that process.

Lee promised to share South Korea's experiences in national development with Kenya and pledged to collaborate on mutual efforts.

In response, Ruto remarked, "Since taking office, I have visited South Korea twice. The strong friendship and cooperation between our two countries have allowed me to make these visits."

Ruto emphasized that while South Korea and Kenya were at similar levels not long ago, South Korea has transformed from a developing nation to a developed country within a generation. He stressed the importance of learning from South Korea's success, stating, "I always encourage our citizens that with effort, we too can achieve what South Korea has done."

He added that Kenya and South Korea are already collaborating in various fields, including new city development, and expressed his hope for continued close cooperation, assuring Lee of his trust in their friendship.