President Lee Jae Myung and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on March 3 hold an extended summit at the presidential office of Malacanang Palace in Manila. (Yonhap News)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

President Lee Jae Myung on March 3 announced during his state visit to the Philippines expanded bilateral cooperation in new projects for building nuclear energy plants and supply chains for core minerals.

He said this in a joint news release following his summit that afternoon with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the presidential office of Malacanang Palace in Manila.

"We agreed to boost practical cooperation in nuclear power," President Lee said. "Based on a feasibility study on the resumption of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the introduction of new projects for developing nuclear power plants, both countries will become each other's optimal partner in nuclear power cooperation."

"Korea possesses cutting-edge technology and the Philippines abundant mineral resources, making both countries ideal partners in core minerals," he added. "Based on the recently concluded MOU on core mineral cooperation, we decided to expand pragmatic cooperation related to such minerals and supply chains."

Launched in 1976, construction of the Bataan plant was halted in 1986 due to the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in the Soviet Union.

President Marcos, who took office in 2022, asked for Korea's cooperation after announcing the resumption of nuclear power projects in the Philippines.

President Lee on March 4 was also scheduled to visit the national Heroes Cemetery near Manila, lay wreath at the Korean War Memorial, and attend a bilateral business forum and a meeting with Korean expats.

The president will fly home in the evening after wrapping up his four-day tour of Singapore and the Philippines.

dusrud21@korea.kr