President Lee Jae Myung on July 17 holds phone talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Office of the President in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Office of the President)

By Kim Hyelin 

President Lee Jae Myung on July 17 in his first talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to boost their bilateral strategic partnership.

In a written briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said President Erdogan congratulated President Lee on his election victory, quoting the Turkish leader as saying his country is highly interested in boosting ties with Korea, a long-time ally, and lauds the restoration of Korea's democracy and the strength of its people.

President Lee said, "I am pleased that Korea and Turkiye have kept developing bilateral ties based on the historical bond of our blood alliance formed with Turkiye's participation in the Korean War."

Spokesperson Kang said both leaders pledged to further bolster their bilateral strategic partnership.

She added that President Lee praised the closer economic cooperation sustained between the two sides including the expansion of trade and investment, and agreed to advance practical collaboration in sectors like defense and the defense industry, nuclear power and green energy.

In France from July 16-17, a presidential delegation led by former Minister of Justice Kang Kumsil held talks in Paris with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French president, key members of the National Assembly and Senate, and executives of major companies to explain the Lee administration's governing philosophy and foreign policy.

And earlier in Brussels on July 15, a special envoy delegation to the European Union led by former Minister of Environment Yoon Yeo-joon spoke with European Council President Antonio Costa and others.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr