Key facts
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever agreed to expand investment in batteries, materials, and energy.
- The leaders also agreed to enhance market access for businesses and establish strategic bases for overseas expansion.
- Lee met with European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Luis Santos da Costa.
- The EU and South Korea condemned "illegal military cooperation" between North Korea and Russia.
- An agreement was signed to launch negotiations for a bilateral information security pact between South Korea and the EU.
- President Lee is continuing his European tour with visits to Italy, the Vatican, and France for the G7 summit.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung concluded his visit to Belgium by agreeing with Prime Minister Bart De Wever to bolster investment in key sectors such as batteries, materials, and energy. The leaders also committed to improving market access for their respective businesses, aiming to establish each country as a strategic hub for international expansion.
President Lee's trip to Belgium marked the first leg of a 10-day European tour and coincided with the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Belgium. Following his bilateral talks, Lee met with European Union leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa.
During the summit with EU leaders, Lee and the European officials condemned the "illegal military cooperation" between North Korea and Russia, which they stated enables Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine. They called for Pyongyang and Moscow to cease all related activities and adhere to United Nations Security Council resolutions. Additionally, an agreement was signed to initiate negotiations for a bilateral information security pact, aimed at strengthening security and defense cooperation.
President Lee is now en route to Italy for the next stage of his tour. He is scheduled to hold a summit with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and later meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Vatican to meet with Pope Leo XIV, before proceeding to France for the Group of Seven (G7) summit, which will gather global leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.