FM Cho meets with top Indian, Australian officials on margins of democracy summit

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, right, shakes hands with Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, India's minister of state for external affairs and education, ahead of their meeting in Seoul, March 19, in this photo provided by Cho's office. Yonhap

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with senior officials of India and Australia on Tuesday and discussed bilateral relations and cooperation, Cho's office said.

The separate meetings with Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, India's minister of state for external affairs and education, and Tim Watts, Australian assistant foreign minister, took place as the two officials were visiting South Korea this week to attend the Summit for Democracy forum.

In the meeting with Singh, Cho asked for New Delhi's support in improving the investment environment for South Korean businesses in India so that the friendly relationship will further deepen in economic security and other related fields.

Cho also noted the smooth progress in South Korea's export of K-9 self-propelled howitzers to India.

Singh expressed hope that the two countries will continue to advance their special strategic partnership in areas like high-tech manufacturing and people-to-people exchanges.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, right, speaks with Tim Watts, Australia's assistant foreign minister, at the foreign ministry in Seoul, March 19, in this photo provided by Cho's office. Yonhap

In the meeting with Watts, Cho highlighted the shared vision with Australia on the Indo-Pacific region and suggested the two sides will continue strategic communication and cooperation.

Cho thanked the country for its attention and support in relation to the supply deal on the 129 South Korean-made Redback infantry fighting vehicles signed between Hanwha and the Australian arms procurement agency.

Watts also had a meeting with First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and discussed the Indo-Pacific strategy and other regional issues, including North Korea's provocations and its illicit military cooperation with Russia, Seoul's foreign ministry said. (Yonhap)