KOREAN NET

President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) and his Peruvian counterpart Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 pose for a photo at their news conference held at the Presidential Palace in Lima to announce a joint declaration on higher bilateral cooperation. (Office of the President)

By Lee Kyoung Mi

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Peruvian counterpart Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 in Lima, Peru agreed to bolster bilateral cooperation in the defense sector and infrastructure in their talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

After their meeting that day at the Presidential Palace, both leaders released a joint declaration at a news conference.

President Yoon said, "We had an in-depth discussion on strengthening bilateral solidarity and cooperation," announcing plans to boost collaboration in national defense, the defense industry, economy, technological cooperation and human exchange.

First he mentioned the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOU) on joint production of KF-21 fighter jet parts, joint development of naval ships (submarines) and cooperation in army ground equipment, he added, "These will act as a catalyst to hasten defense industry cooperation between Korea and Peru to all directions."

President Yoon also hailed the MOU in core minerals, saying, "This will be a steppingstone for advancing complementary cooperation in supply chains between the tech power Korea and resource-rich Peru."

Both nations pledged to bolster cooperation in digital transition through an MOU in information and communications technology, as well as expand human exchange between the two countries through an MOU in tourism cooperation.

On the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Peru, President Yoon also held bilateral talks with the U.S., China, Japan and Vietnam and a trilateral meeting with the U.S. and Japan.

He later flew to Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 17 to attend the Group of 20 Summit.

km137426@korea.kr