President Lee Jae Myung on July 23 holds a phone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Office of the President in Seoul. (President Lee's official X account)

By Yoon Sojung

President Lee Jae Myung on July 23 held his first phone talks each with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the development of bilateral cooperation, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

In his conversation with Chancellor Merz, President Lee praised the direction of bilateral ties in sectors including politics, economy, society and culture over the 140-year history of diplomatic relations.

"Let's work together to further develop bilateral ties through close exchanges and communication given that both administrations took office around the same time."

Chancellor Merz told President Lee, "Korea is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific, so Germany is pleased to maintain our longstanding close cooperative partnership based on democracy, human rights and free trade."

Highlighting strong economic cooperation despite global economic uncertainty, the two leaders agreed to continue practical collaboration in a range of sectors.

Later in his phone call with President Mirziyoyev, President Lee thanked the Uzbek leader for sending a congratulatory letter on his inauguration and urged close cooperation to elevate the special strategic partnership between both countries.

Expressing special affection toward Korea, President Mirziyoyev said he hopes for the development of bilateral ties with the launch of the Lee administration.

Both leaders hailed their close and substantial cooperation in sectors like transportation and infrastructure, pledging to further expand reciprocally beneficial cooperation. President Lee also asked Uzbekistan to take interest in and help the difficulties of Korean companies operating in the Central Asian country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs the same day said a special presidential envoy sent to Canada held talks with key government officials there to deliver President Lee's handwritten letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Seoul's commitment to raise bilateral cooperation.

Headed by Rep. Kim Byung-joo, the delegation from July 22-23 spoke to Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, Minister of National Defense David McGuinty and Michael Sabia, the clerk of the Privy Council in Ottawa, on boosting bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors including the defense industry, aerospace, quantum, artificial intelligence and energy.

arete@korea.kr