President Moon Jae-in lauds PM Modi, says his initiatives have helped strengthen India-Korea relations

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday said that he was looking forward to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Seoul in 2020. Addressing a joint press statement in Delhi with Modi, Moon said Indian Prime Minister's initiatives have helped strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

"India and Korea, for the last 45 years, have developed bilateral relations in various fields and in 2015, the occasion of Prime Minister Modi's visit to South Korea escalated those relations to a special strategic partnership," said President Moon.

"Now three years have passed, and Prime Minister Modi's 'Act East Policy' is important for co-operation to Korea, and I am pressing ahead with the 'New Southern Policy' that makes India Korea's key partner for cooperation," he added.

He further stated that he agreed with Prime Minister Modi to promote co-operation for people, prosperity and peace and respond to the fourth Industrial Revolution so as to create engines of future growth.

"By facilitating exchange between people of the two countries, we decided to broaden the scope of mutual understanding and empathy.  We'll make mutual summit level visit on a regular basis. We agreed to expand high-level consultations between the two governments," President Moon said.

He also said that in order to boost cultural co-operation, various steps like visa-on-arrival will be implemented in order to reduce the inconveniences experienced by people travelling between the two countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi lauded South Korea for its participation in the 'Make in India' mission, which, he said, has created many employment opportunities in India. 

"South Korea's participation in our 'Make in India' mission has created many employment opportunities in India," he said. 

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi and President Moon inaugurated the 35-acre Samsung mobile factory in Noida which is considered to be the world's largest mobile factory.

He further said that Korean companies have made an identity for themselves in every household of India due to their commitment,

Prime Minister Modi also acknowledged Moon Jae-in's role in accelerating the peace process in the Korean peninsula.

"Credit for accelerating the peace process in the Korean peninsula goes to President Moon Jae-in. I believe that the positive environment that has been created is an effort of President Moon," he added.

The Prime Minister then extended cooperation to reduce tension in the proliferation links between north and south Asia.

"The proliferation links between north and south Asia are a matter of concern of India, India is a stakeholder in the peace process. We will offer all possible cooperation in order to reduce tension. We have also decided to step up the scale of consultation and cooperation," he said.

Prime Minister Modi and President Moon witnessed the exchange of agreements and seven memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries.

A total of 11 MoUs were signed between India and South Korea including on cooperation in the field of biotechnology and bio-economics and on cooperation in the field of ICT and Telecommunications.

President Moon arrived in New Delhi on Sunday on his first ever state visit to India.

President Moon also addressed the India-Korea business forum and visited Gandhi Smriti with Prime Minister Modi yesterday. 

Earlier in the day, Moon Jae-in visited Rajghat and paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

He was accompanied by his wife, Kim Jung-sook, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs General (retd) VK Singh, among other officials.

After paying homage, President Moon signed the visitor's book and was gifted with a bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

President Moon was accorded a ceremonial reception and inspected a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhawan earlier today. 

Thereafter, the South Korean President met his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind, Modi and other high-ranking officials.

(With ANI inputs)