President Lee Jae Myung (right) on Oct. 30 shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in their bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. (Office of the President)

By Lee Dasom

President Lee Jae Myung has held a series of talks with world leaders visiting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

His first summit on Oct. 30 was with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center. They agreed to continue shuttle diplomacy between the two sides.

President Lee noted that the number of challenges the two countries must jointly respond to is steadily increasing amid the abruptly changing global situation. He called it "more important than ever" to raise cooperation and mutual assistance.

Prime Minister Takaichi said both countries are "important neighbors to each other." She also said that due to the strategic environment, the importance of the trilateral relationship among Korea, Japan and the U.S. and bilateral cooperation between Korea and Japan is increasing.

Both sides agreed on the importance of bilateral relations and agreed to continue shuttle diplomacy based on their geographical proximity and form future-oriented ties.

They also pledged to expand practical cooperation so that the people of the two countries feel the effects in sectors such as cutting-edge technologies, economic security, and social and cultural spheres.

Earlier in the morning, President Lee in talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed on a joint statement on security and the defense industry, which pledged to raise bilateral cooperation in the two strategically linked sectors.

President Lee also expressed his hope for Korea's contributions to Canada's rapid acquisition of military capacity and strengthening of its defense capacity, especially for a submarine procurement project.

Prime Minister Carney said he was well aware of Korea's submarine technology and know-how and agreed on stronger bilateral cooperation in the defense industry.

They also discussed future-oriented cooperation in sectors such as energy and artificial intelligence, as well as raising cultural and people-to-people exchanges through methods like an agreement on joint production of audiovisual content.

President Lee on Oct. 30 also held successive summits with the leaders of New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia on further development of bilateral ties with each country.

dlektha0319@korea.kr