Key facts
- South Korea and Australia agreed to cooperate on building stable regional energy supply chains.
- The leaders met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
- They reaffirmed their partnership in energy resources like LNG and petroleum products.
- Australia is a key partner for South Korea's energy needs, especially amid Middle East conflict.
- Australia is seen as a trustworthy partner in critical minerals and clean energy.
- Lee and Albanese will pursue closer communication, including a potential visit by Lee to Australia next year.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed Tuesday to cooperate closely to build stable regional energy supply chains, reaffirming their countries' partnership in energy resources amid global uncertainties. The agreement was reached during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to Lee's senior secretary for public affairs, Seong Ghi-hong, the leaders had a frank exchange of views on bilateral ties, energy supply chains, cooperation in the defense industry, and the international security situation. They specifically noted that South Korea and Australia are key partners relying on each other for energy resources such as liquefied natural gas and petroleum products, particularly as they jointly respond to the energy crisis stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.