President Lee Meets with Kenyan President Ruto to Discuss Development Cooperation

President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with Kenyan President William Ruto on June 17, stating, "Thanks to your outstanding leadership, Kenya is developing more than ever, and we want to be part of that development journey."

The meeting took place during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, where President Lee expressed his desire to deepen the cooperation between South Korea and Kenya.

He noted, "South Korea was once a colonized nation, but we have grown significantly in a short time, receiving help from many countries along the way, which played a crucial role in our development."

Lee promised, "As Kenya works towards national development, we are willing to share our experiences and collaborate to the fullest extent possible."

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

Ruto emphasized, "Not long ago, South Korea and Kenya were at similar levels, but in just one generation, South Korea has transformed from a developing country to a developed nation. We must learn lessons from Korea's leap forward."

He added, "I always encourage our citizens that with effort, we too can achieve what Korea has done."

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