Blue House Discusses Follow-Up Measures to Japan Visit Outcomes
Plans Luncheon with Leaders of Each Political Party
After completing his two-day visit to the United States, President Lee Jaemyung is scheduled on January 15 to discuss follow-up measures with his aides at the Blue House to build on the outcomes of his trip to Japan, and to address current affairs, including meeting with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On January 16, in line with the theme of the 'National Unity' week, he plans to invite the leaders and floor leaders of each political party to the Blue House for a luncheon.
According to the Blue House, on the morning of January 15, President Lee will meet with Chairman Khaldoon, who is visiting Korea from January 14 to 16 for a three-day trip, at the main building of the Blue House to resume 'K-Defense Industry Economic Diplomacy.' Chairman Khaldoon serves as the UAE's special envoy for Korea, overseeing bilateral cooperation, and was designated as an honorary accompanying official during President Lee's state visit to the UAE in November last year.
The government plans to further specify follow-up measures for the MOUs signed during the Korea-UAE summit, covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare and medical services, culture, defense industry, nuclear power, energy, and investment, during Chairman Khaldoon's visit. In particular, ahead of the UAE president's visit to Korea, the government aims to lay the groundwork for concrete working-level discussions on defense cooperation by February. There is also the possibility of continued discussions on cooperation for the 'UAE Stargate Project,' which is estimated to have an economic impact of around 20 billion dollars.
Subsequently, on January 16, President Lee plans to invite the leaders and floor leaders of each political party for a luncheon and discussion to share the main directions of state affairs for the new year and to discuss ways for bipartisan cooperation to restore livelihoods and ensure stability in governance. The Blue House stated, "President Lee intends to focus the administration's efforts on laying the foundation for a major national leap forward and will call for cooperation from the political community," adding, "There will be no restrictions on the agenda, and discussions will cover key issues concerning people's livelihoods and the economy."
Previously, on January 14, President Lee concluded his official visit and friendship events in Nara Prefecture, the hometown of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which included a small-group meeting, an expanded meeting, a one-on-one conversation, an additional private meeting, and a dinner. The two leaders agreed to expand economic cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and to jointly respond to transnational crimes such as scams. They also reaffirmed the need for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and discussed sensitive issues such as Japan's seafood import restrictions and Korea's efforts to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The leaders also began to address historical issues gradually, starting with the 'Josei Coal Mine' case.
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