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By Park Boram
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico City on Thursday as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation in various areas, from supply chains to artificial intelligence (AI).
Lee arrived here Wednesday on a three-day state visit, becoming the first South Korean president in 16 years to make a state visit to Mexico.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attend a welcoming ceremony at the Mexican presidential palace on Sept. 24, 2026, ahead of their summit talks. (Yonhap)
Following their summit, Lee and Sheinbaum are set to attend a ceremony for the signing of agreements between the two countries and make a joint press announcement of the outcome of their bilateral summit.
In an interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal, released Wednesday, Lee said combining South Korea's technology with Mexico's strong industrial base can create new growth, citing AI and supply chains among areas for cooperation.
He also said South Korea and Mexico have considerable room to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, citing semiconductors, the aerospace industry and electric vehicles as prospective sectors for cooperation.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (L) and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pose for a photo at a welcoming ceremony at the Mexican presidential palace on Sept. 24, 2026, ahead of their summit talks. (Yonhap)
Ahead of the summit, Lee paid his respects to the fallen heroes of Mexico, laying flowers and observing a moment of silence at the Altar a la Patria in Chapultepec Park, a major national monument honoring Mexico's national defenders and military heroes.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pays tribute at the Altar a la Patria in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City on Sept. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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