Yoon Holds Summit with New Zealand Prime Minister... "Launch of Economic Security Dialogue"

"'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' Upgrade Discussions Progress"
New Zealand Prime Minister's Visit to Korea After 9 Years
Prime Minister Luxon "Supports '8.15 Unification Doctrine'"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the Korea-New Zealand summit held on the 4th at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the 4th and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, economy, science, and defense. In particular, they decided to launch a bilateral economic security dialogue to jointly respond to challenges and opportunities in the field of economic security.

During the summit at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, President Yoon discussed ways to elevate the current "21st Century Partnership," agreed upon in 2006, to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership." This visit marks Prime Minister Luxon's first trip to Korea since taking office and the first visit by a New Zealand prime minister in nine years since 2015.

The two countries agreed to continue cooperation to promote trade and investment in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Korea-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) next year. They also agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in advanced science and technology fields, including the evaluation of the 5th Korea-New Zealand Science and Technology Joint Committee and preparations for the 6th Joint Committee meeting.

Furthermore, they strongly condemned North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile development and the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, agreeing to cooperate mutually for North Korea's denuclearization and the improvement of human rights within North Korea. Prime Minister Luxon expressed support for President Yoon's announced "8.15 Unification Doctrine." Both countries condemned Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and agreed to continue supporting Ukraine's efforts to secure peace.

The two leaders reunited two months after holding a summit meeting of the Indo-Pacific Partners Four (IP4) at the NATO summit in July.